Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,141 per month in Abha vs $2,341 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Abha vs $3,462 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Abha vs $4,582 in Barcelona, rent included.

Abha is about 51% cheaper than Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Abha sits 15% below the global median, while Barcelona is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45 SAR 20.42
$17.61 €15.04
-69.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 SAR 201
$68.7 €58.7
-22.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.66 SAR 28.72
$13.75 €11.74
-44.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 SAR 6.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 SAR 5.14
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.22 SAR 12.08
$2.76 €2.36
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 SAR 2.39
$2.78 €2.38
-76.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 SAR 0.86
$2.05 €1.75
-88.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.61 €3.93
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.59 €3.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 SAR 7.14
$1.28 €1.09
48.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 SAR 1.96
$2.11 €1.80
-75.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 SAR 7.54
$1.97 €1.68
2.03%
Eggs
$2.98 SAR 11.19
$3.44 €2.94
-13.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.91 SAR 22.15
$18.83 €16.08
-68.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 SAR 31.57
$9.45 €8.07
-10.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.17 SAR 64.4
$19.01 €16.24
-9.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 SAR 6.81
$2.72 €2.32
-33.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 SAR 6.35
$2.37 €2.03
-28.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.35
$2.08 €1.77
-31.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 SAR 6.23
$2.76 €2.36
-39.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 SAR 5.30
$1.97 €1.68
-28.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 SAR 4.52
$1.79 €1.53
-32.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 SAR 3.43
$1.51 €1.29
-39.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 SAR 2.04
$0.90 €0.77
-40.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.88 SAR 10.79
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 SAR 5.70
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 SAR 5.55
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 SAR 35.85
$6.76 €5.77
41.42%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.55 €6.44
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.44 €1.23
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.41 €2.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 SAR 2.96
$3.03 €2.59
-73.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.27 SAR 147
$28.39 €24.25
38.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 SAR 9.69
$4.43 €3.78
-41.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.63 SAR 9.87
$2.05 €1.75
28.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.37 SAR 50.1
$29.33 €25.05
-54.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.28
$1.89 €1.61
-67.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K SAR 91.4K
$38.7K €33.1K
-37.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K SAR 83.7K
$32.4K €27.6K
-31.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.9 SAR 307
$189 €161
-56.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.31 SAR 140
$22.21 €18.96
67.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 SAR 205
$36.82 €31.44
48.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 SAR 456
$58.0 €49.52
109.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.62 SAR 99.8
$20.99 €17.93
26.82%
Cinema Ticket
$18.01 SAR 67.6
$11.05 €9.44
62.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 SAR 874
$726 €620
-67.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,236 SAR 19.6K
$15.2K €13.0K
-65.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.24 SAR 143
$88.3 €75.4
-56.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 SAR 250
$36.98 €31.58
80.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$178 SAR 669
$103 €87.6
74.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 SAR 335
$119 €102
-25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 SAR 1,309
$1,526 €1,304
-77.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 SAR 985
$1,218 €1,040
-78.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 SAR 2,095
$2,794 €2,386
-80.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 SAR 2,360
$2,027 €1,731
-68.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,053 SAR 3,949
$7,094 €6,058
-85.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$611 SAR 2,293
$4,849 €4,141
-87.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abha
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,393 SAR 8,972
$2,404 €2,053
-0.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
3.39
67.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abha: April 26, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Abha versus $1,526 in Barcelona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 0% higher in Barcelona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Abha versus $69.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $320 – making Abha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Abha vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abha or Barcelona?
Barcelona costs about 105% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Abha vs Barcelona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,711 per month in Abha and $3,512 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Abha or Barcelona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Abha or Barcelona?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Abha vs Barcelona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Abha and $69.0 in Barcelona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Abha or Barcelona?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,141, than in Barcelona at $2,341. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Abha or Barcelona?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abha costs $1,141 versus $2,341 in Barcelona. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Abha compared to Barcelona?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Abha or Barcelona?
If budget matters most, go with Abha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barcelona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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