😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $437 in Al `arish.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $690 in Al `arish.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $942 in Al `arish.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 458% more expensive than in Al `arish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Al `arish is 68% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.31
$3.99E£209
359.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.5
$14.39E£752
364.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.22
$4.72E£246
191.31%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.82
$1.23E£64.4
157.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.56
$0.34E£17.88
747.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$0.13E£6.69
1400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.46
$1.53E£79.7
154.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€4.00
$2.93E£153
53.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$0.90E£47.15
42.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$0.38E£19.66
444.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$0.62E£32.54
188.71%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$1.37E£71.6
267.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.37
$2.38E£125
626.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$3.85E£201
144.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.24
$8.26E£432
134.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$1.52E£79.2
109.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$0.58E£30.24
260.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$0.40E£20.91
560.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$0.32E£16.89
784.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$0.48E£24.86
358.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$0.46E£24.10
365.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$0.23E£11.93
591.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$0.23E£11.99
304.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.45
$1.99E£104
264.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$4.94E£258
61.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$1.41E£73.7
4.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$1.66E£87.0
66.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$0.19E£10.00
1447.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.08
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$0.41E£21.58
646.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$0.37E£19.12
308.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.29
$1.94E£101
1656.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$0.43E£22.39
297.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$32.6KE£1.7M
11.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$27.1KE£1.4M
12.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$16.40E£857
1018.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.12
$7.63E£399
93.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.60
$18.99E£993
93.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.63
$19.37E£1,012
188.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.04
$4.23E£221
167.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$95.1E£4,968
933.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$2,524E£131.9K
561.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$16.70E£873
450.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.68
$59.8E£3,125
-32.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.4
$80.3E£4,197
35.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$48.45E£2,533
152.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,501
$145E£7,603
1061.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,176
$78.5E£4,102
1585.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,326
$232E£12.1K
1028.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,710
$165E£8,625
1065.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,520
$833E£43.5K
780.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,669
$401E£21.0K
1210.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,056
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
20
-84.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Al `arish: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $145 in Al `arish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $14.00 in Al `arish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $112 per month, with Al `arish 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
Barcelona vs Al `arish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Al `arish?
Al `arish wins on cost – living expenses run 458% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al `arish the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Barcelona and in Al `arish?
You'd need roughly $3,661 in Barcelona and $656 in Al `arish 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Barcelona compared to Al `arish?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $145 in Al `arish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Barcelona or in Al `arish?
Supermarket bills run roughly 192% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Barcelona compared to Al `arish?
All in, you'll spend $2,441 per month in Barcelona versus $437 in Al `arish – a 458% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barcelona or in Al `arish?
At $437 in Al `arish versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al `arish but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Al `arish the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Al `arish?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al `arish delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $437 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al `arish hard to pass up.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Al `arish?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Al `arish are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al `arish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 458% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.