Side-by-side city decision # Xiamen vs Girona. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link XiamenChina2 VS GironaSpain2 $1,030Xiamen monthly budget $1,440Girona monthly budget 100 MbpsXiamen internet 100 MbpsGirona internet Decision summary No universal winner The result is balanced. Your priorities should decide the better fit. Cost Best budget Xiamen Speed Fastest internet Tie Vibe Best nomad vibe Tie Safety Highest safety Xiamen Air Cleanest air Girona Walk Most walkable Girona Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Xiamen](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/xiamen.md) China 2/6 Budget$1,030 Internet100 Mbps Vibe7/10 [Girona](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/girona.md) Spain 2/6 Budget$1,440 Internet100 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $1,030 $1,440 1-bed center rent $500 $800 Coworking desk $150 $150 Local meal $5 $12 Cappuccino $3.5 $2.5 Gym membership $40 $40 Transport budget $30 $40 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 100 Mbps 100 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 85/100 75/100 Air quality 70/100 75/100 Walkability 7/10 8/10 Female safety 7/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 4/10 8/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Good Good English proficiency Average Average Climate type Subtropical monsoon Mediterranean Best time to visit Oct - Apr Apr - Jun Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Xiamen](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/xiamen.md) China → ### Strengths * Affordable cost of living compared to first-tier Chinese cities * Excellent seafood and local cuisine * Mild winters and generally comfortable climate * Very safe city with low crime rates * Beautiful coastline and scenic Gulangyu Island * Efficient public transportation including metro and BRT ### Trade-offs * Language barrier; few locals speak English * Air quality can be moderate, especially in winter * Visa policies are restrictive and require planning * Limited nightlife and entertainment options * High humidity and typhoons in summer * Tap water is not safe to drink; need to buy bottled water ### Common visa routes * 30-day L visa * 144-hour transit visa at Xiamen port * 15-day visa-free for select nationalities (e.g., Singapore, Japan) [Girona](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/girona.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Stunning medieval old town with riverside charm * Excellent food scene influenced by Catalan cuisine * Close to Costa Brava beaches and Barcelona * Lower cost of living than Barcelona or Madrid * Safe and walkable city with good public transport * Rich cultural festivals and mild climate year-round ### Trade-offs * Limited nightlife compared to larger Spanish cities * Catalan language can be a barrier for newcomers * Summer months can be crowded with tourists * Fewer coworking spaces than Barcelona * Bureaucratic processes can be slow and complex * Heating in older apartments can be inefficient ### Common visa routes * Schengen Tourist (90 days) * Non-Lucrative Visa * Digital Nomad Visa (Ley de Startups) Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.