πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,298 in Al-Buraimi versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Al-Buraimi versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Al-Buraimi costs roughly 57% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Al-Buraimi is 25% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.12OMRΒ 1.97
$17.58β¬15.14
-70.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59OMRΒ 9.85
$68.4β¬58.9
-62.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75OMRΒ 2.98
$14.06β¬12.10
-44.88%
Cappuccino
$4.96OMRΒ 1.91
$2.78β¬2.39
78.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06OMRΒ 0.41
$2.80β¬2.41
-62.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32OMRΒ 0.12
$2.06β¬1.78
-84.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.15OMRΒ 4.68
$4.46β¬3.84
172.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.65OMRΒ 4.49
$4.61β¬3.97
152.71%
π Groceries & Markets
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00OMRΒ 0.77
$1.24β¬1.07
61.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23OMRΒ 0.48
$2.03β¬1.75
-39.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74OMRΒ 0.67
$1.92β¬1.65
-9.37%
Eggs
$2.47OMRΒ 0.95
$3.31β¬2.85
-25.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.87OMRΒ 1.49
$18.43β¬15.87
-79.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.08OMRΒ 1.96
$9.49β¬8.17
-46.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.79OMRΒ 3.38
$19.16β¬16.49
-54.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61OMRΒ 1.00
$2.64β¬2.27
-1.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73OMRΒ 0.67
$2.45β¬2.11
-29.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84OMRΒ 0.71
$2.12β¬1.83
-13.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18OMRΒ 0.45
$2.85β¬2.45
-58.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97OMRΒ 0.37
$2.04β¬1.75
-52.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97OMRΒ 0.38
$1.85β¬1.59
-47.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09OMRΒ 0.42
$1.47β¬1.27
-25.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56OMRΒ 0.21
$0.84β¬0.73
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54OMRΒ 2.52
$7.14β¬6.15
-8.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.77OMRΒ 6.07
$7.88β¬6.79
100.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.32OMRΒ 1.66
$1.38β¬1.19
213.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.74OMRΒ 2.98
$2.31β¬1.99
235.06%
π Getting Around
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.98β¬2.57
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.26β¬25.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59OMRΒ 1.00
$4.60β¬3.96
-43.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54OMRΒ 0.21
$2.07β¬1.78
-73.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.14OMRΒ 1.98
$29.18β¬25.12
-82.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65OMRΒ 0.25
$1.84β¬1.58
-64.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KOMRΒ 8,664
$39.0Kβ¬33.6K
-42.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KOMRΒ 8,300
$32.7Kβ¬28.1K
-34.07%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105OMRΒ 40.56
$188β¬162
-43.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.88OMRΒ 16.12
$22.93β¬19.74
82.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6OMRΒ 26.80
$36.71β¬31.61
89.59%
π Sport & Entertainment
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.4β¬49.39
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70β¬17.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.36OMRΒ 3.99
$11.19β¬9.64
-7.42%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$193OMRΒ 74.2
$721β¬621
-73.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,914OMRΒ 3,817
$15.0Kβ¬13.0K
-34.10%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99OMRΒ 19.25
$86.2β¬74.2
-42.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43OMRΒ 15.18
$37.07β¬31.92
6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0OMRΒ 30.42
$102β¬87.8
-22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2OMRΒ 33.97
$116β¬99.8
-23.87%
π Accommodation & Living
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,534β¬1,320
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206OMRΒ 79.4
$1,220β¬1,051
-83.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,696β¬2,321
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,013β¬1,733
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,220β¬6,216
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,189β¬4,467
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Al-Buraimi
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,613OMRΒ 1,391
$2,359β¬2,031
53.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.39
51.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Buraimi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π°Al-Buraimi pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $26.00 in Al-Buraimi vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $318 per month, with Al-Buraimi 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
Al-Buraimi vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Al-Buraimi?
Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al-Buraimi or Barcelona?
Al-Buraimi pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Al-Buraimi and Barcelona?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-Buraimi vs Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $1,011 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $2,367 in Barcelona β a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al-Buraimi or Barcelona?
At $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Buraimi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al-Buraimi or Barcelona more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Buraimi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barcelona, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Al-Buraimi or Barcelona?
Safety-wise, Al-Buraimi 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet β expenses run 134% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al-Buraimi vs other spots: cost of living compared