🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Az Zubayr versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,156 in Az Zubayr versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Az Zubayr versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 69% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Az Zubayr is 45% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00IQD 5,231
$17.15€14.86
-76.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.14IQD 32.9K
$68.1€58.9
-63.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.98IQD 9,134
$13.64€11.82
-48.83%
Cappuccino
$2.55IQD 3,336
$2.78€2.41
-8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 521
$2.82€2.44
-85.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 266
$1.96€1.70
-89.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96IQD 3,879
$4.43€3.84
-33.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86IQD 3,743
$4.61€3.99
-37.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,726
$1.27€1.10
3.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83IQD 1,092
$2.13€1.85
-61.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66IQD 2,177
$1.99€1.72
-16.58%
Eggs
$1.78IQD 2,332
$3.37€2.92
-47.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.61IQD 6,038
$18.96€16.42
-75.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68IQD 6,122
$9.53€8.26
-50.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.21IQD 17.3K
$18.73€16.22
-29.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,518
$2.65€2.29
-56.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,501
$2.35€2.04
-51.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,328
$2.09€1.81
-51.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 901
$2.73€2.37
-74.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 839
$1.96€1.70
-67.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 836
$1.81€1.56
-64.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67IQD 880
$1.51€1.31
-55.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 731
$0.89€0.77
-37.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96IQD 2,567
$6.78€5.87
-71.09%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.92€6.86
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77IQD 2,313
$1.37€1.19
29.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11IQD 2,762
$2.40€2.08
-12.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 516
$2.91€2.52
-86.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.94IQD 40.5K
$28.66€24.82
7.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25IQD 2,953
$4.58€3.96
-50.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,011
$2.04€1.77
-24.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.95IQD 7,788
$28.72€24.87
-79.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 743
$1.82€1.58
-68.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.1M
$39.3K€34.0K
-51.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
$32.5K€28.1K
-39.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.0IQD 100.8K
$187€162
-58.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.96IQD 23.5K
$22.29€19.30
-19.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.90IQD 45.7K
$36.37€31.50
-4.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.05IQD 48.5K
$57.5€49.82
-35.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50IQD 21.6K
$20.74€17.96
-20.44%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61IQD 9,965
$10.77€9.33
-29.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152IQD 199.6K
$725€628
-78.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,308IQD 4.3M
$15.2K€13.1K
-78.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50IQD 36.0K
$87.9€76.1
-68.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.98IQD 32.7K
$36.81€31.88
-32.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.8IQD 80.9K
$103€89.6
-40.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.34IQD 52.8K
$119€103
-65.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239IQD 312.7K
$1,524€1,319
-84.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 236.4K
$1,227€1,062
-85.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581IQD 760.4K
$2,727€2,362
-78.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346IQD 453.3K
$1,984€1,718
-82.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,469€6,468
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,243€4,541
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,393€2,072
-
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 Az Zubayr: July 28, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Az Zubayr and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $319 per month, with Az Zubayr 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
Az Zubayr vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Az Zubayr and in Barcelona?
Az Zubayr and Barcelona differ by about 223% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $2,359 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Az Zubayr compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,097 in Az Zubayr and $3,539 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Az Zubayr and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Az Zubayr versus $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 102% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $731 in Az Zubayr versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Az Zubayr and Barcelona?
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.
Is Az Zubayr or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Az Zubayr 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.
Where should expats move: Az Zubayr or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.