Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $2,495 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $158 in Al Ghubra versus $3,550 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $227 in Al Ghubra versus $4,605 in Barcelona.

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 96% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Ghubra is 93% below, Barcelona is 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 €15.83

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 €59.5

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.13 €12.16

Cappuccino

$3.13 €2.70

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 €2.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$1.96 €1.69

-86.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 €3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 €4.10

Milk (1 liter)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

$1.25 €1.07

104.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.86

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

Eggs

$4.93 €4.24

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.39

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.61 €8.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 €16.64

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 €2.78

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 €1.87

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 €2.30

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 €2.39

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.90

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 €1.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 €1.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 €0.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 €6.13

Wine (Bottle)

$8.14 €7.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.39

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.15 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.99 €23.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 €2.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 €1.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.89 €30.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 €1.50

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.7K €31.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.9K €26.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 €161

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.44 €13.29

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.80 €32.52

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.27 OMR 17.04

$57.2 €49.21

-22.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 OMR 13.75

$16.80 €14.45

112.56%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$11.58 €9.96

-22.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$178 OMR 68.7

$1,003 €863

-82.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K €14.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 €76.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.87 €35.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 €94.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 €106

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 €1,440

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 €1,146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 €2,234

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 €1,678

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,573 €6,517

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,370 €4,621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 OMR 1,204

$2,402 €2,067

30.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: August 29, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Ghubra and Barcelona differ by about 2667% in total monthly costs ($90.2 vs $2,495 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 30% higher in Al Ghubra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $178 in Al Ghubra versus $1,003 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $90.2 per month in Al Ghubra versus $2,495 in Barcelona – a 2667% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Al Ghubra 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.

Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2667% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.