🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $704 in Beihai versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,138 in Beihai versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,573 in Beihai versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Beihai costs roughly 70% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Beihai is 47% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82¥19.05
$17.58€15.25
-83.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.25¥144
$68.4€59.4
-68.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78¥32.32
$14.06€12.19
-66.00%
Cappuccino
$2.92¥19.78
$2.78€2.41
5.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.11
$2.80€2.43
-83.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.81
$2.06€1.79
-86.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87¥5.87
$4.46€3.87
-80.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12¥14.34
$4.61€4.00
-54.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78¥12.02
$1.24€1.08
43.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61¥10.90
$2.03€1.76
-20.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90¥6.06
$1.92€1.67
-53.13%
Eggs
$1.57¥10.61
$3.31€2.87
-52.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.81¥86.6
$18.43€15.99
-30.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20¥21.67
$9.49€8.23
-66.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.36¥70.1
$19.16€16.62
-45.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77¥11.99
$2.64€2.29
-32.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.47
$2.45€2.12
-48.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36¥9.23
$2.12€1.84
-35.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08¥7.32
$2.85€2.47
-62.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67¥4.50
$2.04€1.77
-67.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.53
$1.85€1.61
-47.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60¥4.03
$1.47€1.28
-59.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.69
$0.84€0.73
-34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15¥21.31
$7.14€6.20
-55.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.43¥77.3
$7.88€6.84
45.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.33
$1.38€1.20
-42.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60¥10.81
$2.31€2.00
-30.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$2.98€2.59
-90.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.93¥115
$29.26€25.38
-42.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.20
$4.60€3.99
-70.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.38
$2.07€1.79
-83.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86¥46.43
$29.18€25.31
-76.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.67
$1.84€1.60
-38.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.7K
$39.0K€33.8K
-50.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.1K
$32.7K€28.4K
-48.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.09¥312
$188€163
-75.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.87¥66.7
$22.93€19.90
-56.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.52¥78.0
$36.71€31.85
-68.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.94¥284
$57.4€49.77
-26.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82¥93.5
$20.70€17.95
-33.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41¥43.37
$11.19€9.71
-42.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,297
$721€625
-52.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2K¥116.5K
$15.0K€13.1K
14.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.73¥289
$86.2€74.8
-50.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.04¥203
$37.07€32.16
-18.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9¥487
$102€88.5
-29.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4¥503
$116€101
-35.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,863
$1,534€1,330
-82.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186¥1,259
$1,220€1,059
-84.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593¥4,011
$2,696€2,338
-78.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357¥2,417
$2,013€1,746
-82.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,044¥20.6K
$7,220€6,264
-57.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,709¥11.6K
$5,189€4,501
-67.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beihai
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,359€2,047
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
3.39
14.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beihai: June 2, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Beihai and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Beihai vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $318 per month, with Beihai 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
Beihai vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beihai and Barcelona?
Beihai and Barcelona differ by about 236% in total monthly costs ($704 vs $2,367 including rent). Beihai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Beihai compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,055 in Beihai and $3,550 in Barcelona 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 Beihai and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Beihai versus $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beihai and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $340 in Beihai versus $721 in Barcelona. 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 59% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $704 in Beihai versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Beihai but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Beihai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beihai and Barcelona?
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 Beihai or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beihai and Barcelona 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: Beihai or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Beihai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.