🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $649 in Handan versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Handan versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,397 in Handan versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Handan costs roughly 74% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Handan is 53% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90¥12.74
$18.74€16.33
-89.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.11¥121
$69.5€60.6
-73.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.40¥29.45
$13.77€12.00
-68.05%
Cappuccino
$2.56¥17.15
$3.10€2.70
-17.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.86
$2.83€2.47
-84.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23¥1.55
$1.88€1.64
-87.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.75¥5.04
$3.98€3.47
-81.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47¥9.83
$4.53€3.95
-67.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58¥10.56
$1.27€1.11
24.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71¥4.78
$2.16€1.88
-67.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77¥5.17
$1.76€1.53
-56.25%
Eggs
$0.97¥6.50
$5.13€4.47
-81.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.72¥78.5
$17.88€15.59
-34.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01¥20.15
$9.65€8.41
-68.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.31¥75.7
$20.15€17.56
-43.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51¥10.12
$3.25€2.84
-53.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.57¥3.85
$2.23€1.94
-74.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93¥12.94
$2.60€2.27
-25.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.33¥8.88
$2.76€2.40
-51.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31¥2.10
$2.21€1.93
-85.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31¥2.08
$2.12€1.85
-85.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.82
$1.55€1.35
-63.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36¥2.40
$0.95€0.83
-62.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.31
$7.34€6.40
-48.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28¥68.8
$8.05€7.01
27.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66¥4.44
$1.54€1.35
-57.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36¥9.13
$2.79€2.43
-51.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.93
$3.11€2.71
-90.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.79¥119
$25.86€22.54
-31.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91¥6.08
$3.27€2.85
-72.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.10
$1.48€1.29
-79.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.50¥30.12
$34.27€29.88
-86.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥8.06
$1.73€1.51
-30.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K¥130.9K
$36.4K€31.7K
-46.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K¥99.6K
$30.5K€26.6K
-51.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.1¥476
$187€163
-62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55¥30.51
$15.14€13.20
-69.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.00¥33.50
$37.69€32.85
-86.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.83¥274
$55.9€48.76
-27.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.24¥109
$17.08€14.89
-4.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53¥30.34
$11.41€9.95
-60.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$215¥1,441
$997€869
-78.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥132.9K
$16.5K€14.4K
20.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.39¥197
$92.6€80.8
-68.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.71¥279
$41.22€35.93
1.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.20¥296
$111€96.9
-60.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1¥469
$125€109
-44.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$328¥2,198
$1,707€1,488
-80.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170¥1,138
$1,286€1,121
-86.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$663¥4,443
$2,565€2,236
-74.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346¥2,321
$1,942€1,693
-82.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,848¥19.1K
$7,647€6,666
-62.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,077¥13.9K
$5,167€4,504
-59.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Handan
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$644¥4,313
$2,348€2,047
-72.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
3.16
-5.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Handan: September 15, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $328 in Handan and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 265% 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: $18.00 in Handan vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $336 per month, with Handan 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
Handan vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Handan and in Barcelona?
Handan and Barcelona differ by about 281% in total monthly costs ($649 vs $2,476 including rent). Handan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 265% lower in Barcelona. 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 Handan and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $328 in Handan versus $1,707 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 Handan and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $215 in Handan versus $997 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 93% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $649 in Handan versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Handan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Handan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Handan 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 Handan or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Handan 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: Handan or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Handan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 281% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.