🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $615 in Erdenet versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $862 in Erdenet versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,110 in Erdenet versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Erdenet costs roughly 74% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Erdenet is 54% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.05MNT 14.5K
$17.58€15.12
-76.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.03MNT 103.8K
$68.4€58.9
-57.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.34MNT 15.5K
$14.06€12.09
-69.13%
Cappuccino
$1.59MNT 5,696
$2.78€2.39
-42.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MNT 2,467
$2.80€2.41
-75.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MNT 1,407
$2.06€1.78
-81.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23MNT 4,393
$4.46€3.84
-72.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32MNT 4,735
$4.61€3.96
-71.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00MNT 3,576
$1.24€1.07
-19.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MNT 2,586
$2.03€1.74
-64.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80MNT 6,419
$1.92€1.65
-6.25%
Eggs
$2.13MNT 7,621
$3.31€2.85
-35.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.84MNT 35.2K
$18.43€15.85
-46.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06MNT 18.1K
$9.49€8.16
-46.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.97MNT 14.2K
$19.16€16.48
-79.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46MNT 8,803
$2.64€2.27
-6.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03MNT 7,248
$2.45€2.11
-17.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62MNT 9,373
$2.12€1.82
23.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MNT 7,359
$2.85€2.45
-27.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76MNT 2,730
$2.04€1.75
-62.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MNT 3,351
$1.85€1.59
-49.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MNT 3,229
$1.47€1.26
-38.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68MNT 2,442
$0.84€0.73
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00MNT 10.7K
$7.14€6.14
-57.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.74MNT 20.5K
$7.88€6.78
-27.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16MNT 4,144
$1.38€1.19
-15.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36MNT 4,864
$2.31€1.99
-41.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.10MNT 359
$2.98€2.56
-96.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.68MNT 16.7K
$29.26€25.17
-84.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43MNT 1,525
$4.60€3.95
-90.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68MNT 2,446
$2.07€1.78
-67.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MNT 19.1K
$29.18€25.10
-81.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88MNT 3,131
$1.84€1.58
-52.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6KMNT 44.9M
$39.0K€33.6K
-67.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
$32.7K€28.1K
-67.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.4MNT 226.6K
$188€162
-66.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.86MNT 10.2K
$22.93€19.73
-87.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.88MNT 53.2K
$36.71€31.58
-59.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.77MNT 88.6K
$57.4€49.35
-56.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36MNT 15.6K
$20.70€17.80
-78.94%
Cinema Ticket
$2.72MNT 9,738
$11.19€9.63
-75.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195MNT 696.1K
$721€620
-73.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,663MNT 9.5M
$15.0K€12.9K
-82.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.04MNT 103.8K
$86.2€74.2
-66.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89MNT 106.9K
$37.07€31.89
-19.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1MNT 322.0K
$102€87.8
-11.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MNT 319.1K
$116€99.7
-22.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$180MNT 642.5K
$1,534€1,319
-88.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135MNT 482.5K
$1,220€1,050
-88.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596MNT 2.1M
$2,696€2,319
-77.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,013€1,732
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,220€6,211
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,189€4,463
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erdenet
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$221MNT 790.1K
$2,359€2,029
-90.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.39
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erdenet: May 30, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Erdenet and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 968% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Erdenet vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $318 per month, with Erdenet 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
Erdenet vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Erdenet and Barcelona?
Erdenet and Barcelona differ by about 285% in total monthly costs ($615 vs $2,367 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 968% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Erdenet and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $180 in Erdenet 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 Erdenet and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $195 in Erdenet 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 76% 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 $615 in Erdenet versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Erdenet 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 Erdenet or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Erdenet 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: Erdenet or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 285% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.