Cost of Living: Barcelona vs Hoi An (2026)

Spain vs Vietnam — relocation comparison

TL;DRBarcelona is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 1.5 per 100k. Barcelona scores 8.1 vs 2.6 on democracy. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
67
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Barcelona
Spain
Full profile
52
Livability Score
🇻🇳 Hoi An
Vietnam
Full profile
Barcelona scores 67 to Hoi An's 52 on livability — the gap is real. Hoi An has its charms, but the numbers favor Barcelona.
🔒
Safety
Barcelona
0.6 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Barcelona
8.1/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
27°C vs 34°C summers
🗣️
English
Barcelona
higher proficiency score
Barcelona
Metric
Hoi An
$1712/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$591/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$8,203
🧳
Cost to land
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.5 / 100k
52 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
27°C
☀️
Summer high
34°C
5°C
❄️
Winter low
20°C
84 Mbps
Internet speed
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
2.6 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
Moderate (52/100)
$58k
💼
GDP per capita
$16k
2.8%
📈
Inflation
3.6%
67 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
52 / 100
70/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
90/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

477
PISA
country avg
468
5
Intl schools
13
Yes (Catalan/Spanish)
Public school
Pediatric coverage included in public system
Pediatric care
4–12 weeks
Specialist wait
$784/mo
Childcare
full-day

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
declining
biotechai-deeptechgamingfintech
Industries
hub
Startup ecosystem
70/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Hoi An (34°C vs 27°C).
  • Barcelona is safer by homicide rate (0.6 vs 1.5 per 100k).
  • Barcelona scores higher on democracy (8.1 vs 2.6 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Barcelona (62/100 vs 52/100 English proficiency).

Barcelona vs Hoi An — Common Questions

Which is safer, Barcelona or Hoi An?

Barcelona is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Barcelona has a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 and Hoi An has 1.53 per 100,000.

Should I move to Barcelona or Hoi An?

Barcelona scores 67 to Hoi An's 52 on livability — the gap is real. Hoi An has its charms, but the numbers favor Barcelona. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Barcelona or Hoi An?

Barcelona: Spain Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable to 5)). Hoi An: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Barcelona or Hoi An?

Hoi An is warmer in summer (34°C vs 27°C). Barcelona has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Barcelona or Hoi An without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Barcelona (EF EPI score: 62/100) than in Hoi An (52/100). In Barcelona, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Hoi An, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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