🙂A single person spends $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,482 in Barcelona, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,548 in Barcelona, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $4,613 in Barcelona, rent included.
🙂Ar-rustaq is about 62% cheaper than Barcelona, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Ar-rustaq sits 32% below the global median, while Barcelona is 80% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.27OMR 2.03
$18.42€15.83
-71.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.12OMR 13.13
$69.4€59.6
-50.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.61OMR 2.93
$14.05€12.07
-45.84%
Cappuccino
$4.88OMR 1.88
$3.11€2.67
56.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$2.96€2.54
-71.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29OMR 0.11
$1.95€1.68
-85.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.01OMR 5.01
$3.99€3.43
226.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.14OMR 5.06
$4.62€3.97
184.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27OMR 0.87
$1.32€1.14
71.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28OMR 0.49
$2.11€1.81
-39.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83OMR 0.70
$1.83€1.57
-
Eggs
$2.86OMR 1.10
$5.16€4.44
-44.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.47OMR 2.88
$17.56€15.09
-57.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70OMR 2.58
$9.50€8.17
-29.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.59OMR 4.08
$19.93€17.13
-46.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.51OMR 1.35
$3.17€2.72
10.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00OMR 0.77
$2.21€1.90
-9.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42OMR 0.93
$2.61€2.24
-7.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19OMR 0.46
$2.85€2.45
-58.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21OMR 0.47
$2.17€1.87
-44.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$2.11€1.81
-41.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.85OMR 0.71
$1.62€1.39
14.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62OMR 0.24
$0.88€0.76
-29.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.32OMR 2.43
$7.17€6.16
-11.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.53OMR 5.98
$8.33€7.16
86.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.43OMR 2.09
$1.50€1.29
262.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01OMR 3.47
$2.75€2.36
227.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$3.14€2.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.25€22.56
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19OMR 1.23
$3.22€2.77
-0.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68OMR 1.03
$1.51€1.30
77.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02OMR 3.09
$35.26€30.30
-77.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61OMR 0.23
$1.75€1.51
-65.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KOMR 9,695
$36.7K€31.5K
-31.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KOMR 8,606
$31.7K€27.2K
-29.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174OMR 66.9
$187€161
-7.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.45OMR 11.72
$15.10€12.97
101.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1OMR 26.60
$37.60€32.31
83.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$55.5€47.68
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.74€14.38
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.37OMR 3.99
$11.71€10.06
-11.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288OMR 111
$1,011€869
-71.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KOMR 4,064
$17.1K€14.7K
-38.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7OMR 21.44
$91.4€78.5
-39.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.38OMR 16.70
$41.00€35.23
5.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5OMR 34.47
$111€95.0
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.3OMR 37.44
$126€108
-22.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,704€1,464
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,299€1,117
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,588€2,224
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,929€1,658
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,732€6,644
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,384€4,626
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rustaq
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,389OMR 1,690
$2,374€2,040
84.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
3.16
66.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 85% higher in Ar-rustaq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $69.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $333 – making Ar-rustaq 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
Ar-rustaq vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Ar-rustaq?
Yes – Barcelona is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq and $3,724 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ar-rustaq and in Barcelona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $934 in Ar-rustaq and $2,482 in Barcelona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,011 in Barcelona. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ar-rustaq or in Barcelona?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Barcelona at $2,482. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ar-rustaq or Barcelona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ar-rustaq or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. 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.