😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $717 in Yangshuo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $1,133 in Yangshuo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,548 in Yangshuo.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 246% more expensive than in Yangshuo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Yangshuo is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$2.72¥18.24
577.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$21.52¥144
222.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$4.94¥33.10
184.41%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$2.93¥19.64
6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$0.47¥3.13
529.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.29¥1.96
572.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$0.93¥6.20
329.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.99
$2.13¥14.25
116.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.85¥12.36
-28.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$1.59¥10.66
32.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.92¥6.15
98.91%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$1.54¥10.34
235.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.15
$12.94¥86.6
35.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.20
$3.22¥21.58
195.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.19
$10.34¥69.2
92.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$1.80¥12.04
76.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.25¥8.40
76.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$1.48¥9.89
76.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.13¥7.57
152.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$0.71¥4.75
205.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$0.96¥6.45
119.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$0.56¥3.72
189.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.55¥3.67
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$3.18¥21.29
125.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$10.68¥71.5
-22.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.74¥4.97
102.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$1.66¥11.09
65.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.71
$0.29¥1.95
982.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.64
$16.74¥112
56.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$1.36¥9.14
136.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.31
$0.36¥2.38
319.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.40
$6.72¥45.00
424.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.16¥7.77
50.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$19.7K¥131.9K
86.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$17.3K¥116.0K
82.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$45.94¥308
307.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.02
$9.84¥65.9
53.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.42
$11.85¥79.3
217.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.85
$41.08¥275
35.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$13.98¥93.6
19.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.10
$5.91¥39.57
98.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€872
$330¥2,213
205.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$16.9K¥113.0K
1.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$44.26¥296
106.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.35
$30.91¥207
32.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.4
$71.7¥480
54.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$72.2¥484
74.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$276¥1,847
517.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,121
$192¥1,288
575.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,232
$586¥3,925
341.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$357¥2,391
440.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,667
$3,016¥20.2K
156.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,643
$2,024¥13.6K
165.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Yangshuo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,047
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.89
-18.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Yangshuo: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $276 in Yangshuo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Yangshuo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $199 per month, with Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Yangshuo?
Barcelona and Yangshuo differ by about 246% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $717 including rent). Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo?
You'd need roughly $3,724 in Barcelona and $1,076 in Yangshuo 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 in Yangshuo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $276 in Yangshuo. 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 Yangshuo?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $330 in Yangshuo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $717 in Yangshuo versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yangshuo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Yangshuo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Yangshuo?
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 Yangshuo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo?
Expats usually find Yangshuo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 246% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.