😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $792 in Surigao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,221 in Surigao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,650 in Surigao.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 196% more expensive than Surigao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Surigao is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$3.57₱220
393.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$17.55₱1,082
291.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$3.22₱199
327.02%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.40₱148
15.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.79₱48.56
251.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.37₱22.58
454.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.30₱79.9
254.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.17₱134
111.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.83₱113
-30.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.26₱77.9
67.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.02₱62.7
93.14%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.06₱127
66.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$8.25₱509
128.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$4.17₱257
126.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$7.90₱487
140.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.95₱182
-7.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.54₱94.7
53.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.66₱164
-21.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.55₱95.3
78.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.25₱139
-12.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.63₱162
-31.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.12₱69.0
34.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.77₱47.39
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.81₱173
140.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$8.11₱500
-6.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.20₱74.0
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.04₱126
18.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.28₱17.35
982.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.81₱50.2
446.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.22₱13.51
831.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$2.14₱132
1270.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.09₱67.3
73.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$26.7K₱1.6M
44.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$20.0K₱1.2M
61.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$114₱7,045
65.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$24.41₱1,506
-9.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$39.69₱2,448
-7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$34.14₱2,106
69.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$4.41₱272
375.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.89₱363
87.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$149₱9,178
388.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,233₱261.1K
259.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$46.53₱2,870
89.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$26.78₱1,652
38.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$76.3₱4,706
34.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$53.0₱3,269
124.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$262₱16.2K
482.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$179₱11.1K
579.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$577₱35.6K
383.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$392₱24.2K
417.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$2,292₱141.3K
209.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Surigao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Surigao: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $262 in Surigao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $18.00 in Surigao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $207 per month, with Surigao cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Surigao?
Barcelona and Surigao differ by about 196% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $792 including rent). Surigao is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Surigao?
You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,187 in Surigao to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Surigao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $262 in Surigao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Surigao?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $149 in Surigao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Surigao – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $792 in Surigao versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surigao but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Surigao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Surigao?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Surigao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Surigao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Surigao?
Expats usually find Surigao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.