๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $754 in Rizhao versus $2,356 in Barcelona.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,190 in Rizhao versus $3,455 in Barcelona.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Rizhao versus $4,553 in Barcelona.
๐Living in Rizhao costs roughly 68% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Rizhao is 44% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25ยฅ22.18
$17.64โฌ15.01
-81.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.27ยฅ125
$68.1โฌ58.0
-73.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58ยฅ31.29
$13.96โฌ11.88
-67.19%
Cappuccino
$1.77ยฅ12.09
$2.76โฌ2.35
-35.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47ยฅ3.22
$2.76โฌ2.35
-82.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22ยฅ1.51
$1.97โฌ1.67
-88.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.86ยฅ5.85
$4.53โฌ3.85
-81.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08ยฅ14.17
$4.53โฌ3.85
-54.08%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70ยฅ11.63
$1.24โฌ1.05
37.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47ยฅ10.02
$2.04โฌ1.73
-27.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.41ยฅ2.78
$1.91โฌ1.63
-78.53%
Eggs
$1.83ยฅ12.48
$3.39โฌ2.89
-46.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.09ยฅ103
$18.34โฌ15.60
-17.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.12ยฅ28.17
$9.39โฌ7.99
-56.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.18ยฅ69.6
$18.90โฌ16.08
-46.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33ยฅ9.05
$2.63โฌ2.23
-49.43%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93ยฅ6.33
$2.40โฌ2.04
-61.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72ยฅ4.92
$2.12โฌ1.80
-66.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02ยฅ6.95
$2.70โฌ2.30
-62.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71ยฅ4.84
$2.05โฌ1.75
-65.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13ยฅ7.69
$1.78โฌ1.52
-36.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93ยฅ6.33
$1.47โฌ1.25
-36.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47ยฅ3.24
$0.91โฌ0.77
-48.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92ยฅ26.77
$7.01โฌ5.97
-44.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.06ยฅ68.7
$7.59โฌ6.46
32.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00ยฅ6.85
$1.44โฌ1.22
-30.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52ยฅ10.35
$2.32โฌ1.97
-34.48%
๐ Getting Around
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27ยฅ1.83
$2.94โฌ2.50
-90.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.89ยฅ115
$29.38โฌ25.00
-42.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09ยฅ7.42
$4.53โฌ3.85
-75.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31ยฅ2.15
$2.14โฌ1.82
-85.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.20ยฅ49.15
$28.97โฌ24.65
-75.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14ยฅ7.79
$1.89โฌ1.61
-39.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5Kยฅ139.8K
$39.0Kโฌ33.2K
-47.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.4Kยฅ91.2K
$32.4Kโฌ27.6K
-58.84%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.8ยฅ347
$189โฌ161
-73.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.02ยฅ75.3
$22.24โฌ18.92
-50.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.59ยฅ72.4
$36.57โฌ31.12
-71.04%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.52ยฅ284
$58.0โฌ49.38
-28.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83ยฅ94.5
$21.30โฌ18.13
-35.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85ยฅ46.77
$11.01โฌ9.37
-37.78%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334ยฅ2,284
$731โฌ622
-54.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0Kยฅ116.1K
$14.8Kโฌ12.6K
14.63%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4ยฅ522
$89.3โฌ76.0
-14.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.66ยฅ257
$37.38โฌ31.81
0.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6ยฅ551
$105โฌ89.0
-22.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102ยฅ699
$116โฌ99.0
-12.06%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283ยฅ1,935
$1,551โฌ1,320
-81.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190ยฅ1,299
$1,216โฌ1,035
-84.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594ยฅ4,057
$2,799โฌ2,382
-78.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365ยฅ2,495
$2,008โฌ1,709
-81.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,365ยฅ23.0K
$7,161โฌ6,094
-53.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,706ยฅ11.7K
$5,021โฌ4,273
-66.02%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rizhao
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,462โฌ2,095
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.39
12.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rizhao: April 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Rizhao and $1,551 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $18 in Rizhao vs $68 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $316 per month, with Rizhao 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
Rizhao vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rizhao and Barcelona?
Rizhao and Barcelona differ by about 213% in total monthly costs ($754 vs $2,356 including rent). Rizhao is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rizhao compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,131 in Rizhao and $3,534 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 Rizhao and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Rizhao versus $1,551 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 Rizhao and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $334 in Rizhao versus $731 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 58% 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 $754 in Rizhao versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rizhao but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rizhao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rizhao and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Rizhao or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rizhao 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: Rizhao or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Rizhao gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 213% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.