Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,476 per month in Barcelona vs $273 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,545 per month in Barcelona vs $294 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Barcelona vs $316 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 808% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Barcelona sits 81% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 €16.24

$1.89 IQD 2,477

891.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.2

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 €11.93

$4.49 IQD 5,883

206.68%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.69

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

$2.83 €2.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.63

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 €3.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.93

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.10

$2.72 IQD 3,567

-53.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.87

$0.74 IQD 965

191.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.52

$0.93 IQD 1,214

89.25%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.44

$1.49 IQD 1,945

244.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.50

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 €8.37

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 €17.46

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 €2.82

$0.75 IQD 978

333.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.93

$1.16 IQD 1,519

92.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 €2.25

$0.79 IQD 1,029

229.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.39

$0.26 IQD 340

961.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.92

$0.79 IQD 1,029

179.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.84

$0.40 IQD 519

430.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 €1.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 €0.83

$0.56 IQD 733

69.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 €6.36

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 €6.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 €2.42

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 €22.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 €2.84

$2.31 IQD 3,030

41.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 €1.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 €29.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 €1.50

$0.33 IQD 431

424.24%

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

$36.4K €31.5K

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

$30.5K €26.5K

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

$187 €162

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

$15.14 €13.12

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.69 €32.66

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

39.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 €48.48

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

83.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 €14.81

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.89

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

$997 €864

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €80.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.22 €35.72

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €96.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €108

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 €1,479

$152 IQD 198.5K

1026.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 €1,114

$115 IQD 150.3K

1020.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 €2,223

$195 IQD 254.9K

1218.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 €1,683

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 €6,627

$578 IQD 757.5K

1222.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,167 €4,478

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,348 €2,035

$501 IQD 655.7K

369.04%

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 Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,707 in Barcelona versus $152 in Al-'amarah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 369% higher in Barcelona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Barcelona vs Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Barcelona is pricier by about 808%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,714 per month in Barcelona and $409 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'amarah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,476 in Barcelona and $273 in Al-'amarah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 385% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Barcelona at $2,476. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Al-'amarah. 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.