🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in Iligan City versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Iligan City versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,643 in Iligan City versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Iligan City costs roughly 66% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Iligan City is 41% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44₱212
$17.61€15.08
-80.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.64₱1,088
$68.7€58.8
-74.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.40₱210
$13.75€11.77
-75.27%
Cappuccino
$2.38₱147
$2.76€2.36
-13.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79₱48.47
$2.78€2.38
-71.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₱24.09
$2.05€1.75
-80.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₱81.0
$4.61€3.94
-71.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱134
$4.59€3.93
-52.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24₱138
$1.28€1.10
75.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22₱75.2
$2.11€1.81
-42.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99₱60.9
$1.97€1.69
-49.75%
Eggs
$2.08₱129
$3.44€2.95
-39.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.88₱486
$18.83€16.12
-58.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.01₱309
$9.45€8.09
-46.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64₱471
$19.01€16.27
-59.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90₱179
$2.72€2.33
6.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52₱93.5
$2.37€2.03
-35.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.73₱168
$2.08€1.78
31.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57₱96.6
$2.76€2.36
-43.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32₱143
$1.97€1.69
17.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.51₱155
$1.79€1.53
40.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12₱69.0
$1.51€1.29
-25.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₱44.53
$0.90€0.77
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88₱177
$6.76€5.79
-57.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.32₱513
$7.55€6.46
10.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20₱74.3
$1.44€1.23
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02₱125
$2.41€2.06
-16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.92
$3.03€2.59
-91.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₱50.7
$4.43€3.79
-81.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.89
$2.05€1.76
-88.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.19₱135
$29.33€25.11
-92.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₱67.6
$1.89€1.62
-41.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K₱1.6M
$38.7K€33.2K
-31.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K₱1.3M
$32.4K€27.7K
-36.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112₱6,894
$189€161
-40.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.67₱2,015
$22.21€19.01
47.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.33₱1,686
$36.82€31.52
-25.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.68₱2,078
$58.0€49.64
-41.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.39₱271
$20.99€17.97
-79.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.97₱368
$11.05€9.46
-45.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152₱9,386
$726€622
-79.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,317₱266.2K
$15.2K€13.0K
-71.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.59₱2,812
$88.3€75.6
-48.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.25₱1,619
$36.98€31.66
-29.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5₱4,594
$103€87.8
-27.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.2₱3,343
$119€102
-54.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270₱16.6K
$1,526€1,307
-82.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178₱11.0K
$1,218€1,043
-85.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581₱35.8K
$2,794€2,392
-79.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395₱24.4K
$2,027€1,735
-80.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,220₱137.0K
$7,094€6,073
-68.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,849€4,151
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iligan City
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$203₱12.5K
$2,404€2,058
-91.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.39
96.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iligan City: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Iligan City and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1084% 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 Iligan City vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $320 per month, with Iligan City 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
Iligan City vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Iligan City and Barcelona?
Iligan City and Barcelona differ by about 196% in total monthly costs ($791 vs $2,341 including rent). Iligan City 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 1084% 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 Iligan City and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Iligan City versus $1,526 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 Iligan City and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $152 in Iligan City versus $726 in Barcelona. 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 Iligan City – 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 $2,000 per month?
At $791 in Iligan City versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iligan City but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Iligan City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Iligan City 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 Iligan City or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Iligan City 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: Iligan City or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Iligan City 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.
Iligan City vs other spots: cost of living compared