🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $746 in Az Zubayr versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,164 in Az Zubayr versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,582 in Az Zubayr versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 68% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Az Zubayr is 45% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97IQD 5,205
$17.08€14.72
-76.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.81IQD 32.5K
$69.2€59.7
-64.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.76IQD 8,848
$13.78€11.87
-50.94%
Cappuccino
$2.63IQD 3,446
$2.76€2.37
-4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 475
$2.79€2.40
-87.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16IQD 213
$1.99€1.72
-91.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.86IQD 3,745
$4.36€3.76
-34.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93IQD 3,833
$4.74€4.09
-38.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36IQD 1,777
$1.29€1.11
5.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,076
$2.05€1.77
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64IQD 2,151
$1.99€1.71
-17.59%
Eggs
$1.81IQD 2,364
$3.39€2.92
-46.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42IQD 5,784
$18.81€16.21
-76.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.81IQD 6,292
$9.36€8.07
-48.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18IQD 17.3K
$19.12€16.48
-31.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,490
$2.70€2.32
-57.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,506
$2.34€2.02
-50.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,323
$2.12€1.83
-52.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 905
$2.85€2.46
-75.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 904
$1.97€1.70
-64.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 874
$1.80€1.55
-62.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62IQD 817
$1.45€1.25
-57.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 737
$0.86€0.74
-34.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94IQD 2,534
$6.78€5.84
-71.39%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90€6.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80IQD 2,357
$1.39€1.20
29.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14IQD 2,809
$2.37€2.04
-9.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 522
$2.92€2.52
-86.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.60IQD 41.4K
$28.69€24.72
10.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.29IQD 2,996
$4.46€3.84
-48.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47IQD 1,926
$2.05€1.77
-28.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.96IQD 7,804
$29.55€25.46
-79.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 743
$1.82€1.56
-68.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KIQD 25.4M
$38.8K€33.5K
-49.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KIQD 26.3M
$33.1K€28.5K
-39.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.3IQD 101.3K
$189€163
-59.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58IQD 23.0K
$22.80€19.65
-22.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.04IQD 44.6K
$37.59€32.39
-9.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.06IQD 48.5K
$57.7€49.75
-35.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12IQD 22.4K
$20.74€17.87
-17.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50IQD 9,822
$10.82€9.33
-30.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153IQD 200.4K
$728€628
-78.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,284IQD 4.3M
$14.8K€12.7K
-77.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.32IQD 35.8K
$88.6€76.4
-69.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.03IQD 32.8K
$36.85€31.75
-32.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.8IQD 81.0K
$102€87.9
-39.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.83IQD 54.8K
$116€100
-63.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243IQD 317.6K
$1,569€1,352
-84.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.4K
$1,218€1,050
-85.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586IQD 767.7K
$2,795€2,409
-79.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344IQD 451.1K
$1,975€1,702
-82.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754€6,680
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176€4,460
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az Zubayr
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,343€2,019
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Az Zubayr and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $69.0 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 Barcelona?
Az Zubayr and Barcelona differ by about 213% in total monthly costs ($746 vs $2,337 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 $1,118 in Az Zubayr and $3,505 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 Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Az Zubayr versus $1,569 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 101% 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 $69.0 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 $746 in Az Zubayr versus $2,337 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 213% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.