😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $466 in Al `arish.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $729 in Al `arish.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $993 in Al `arish.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 402% more expensive than Al `arish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Al `arish is 65% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$4.06E£208
320.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$13.87E£708
399.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$5.37E£274
156.61%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.45E£74.2
90.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.42E£21.28
564.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.12E£6.28
1558.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.30E£66.4
235.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$1.93E£98.4
145.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.97E£49.79
32.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.47E£23.89
336.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$0.72E£36.71
176.39%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.57E£80.0
115.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$1.96E£100
859.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.16E£213
125.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$8.30E£424
130.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.45E£74.2
86.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$0.60E£30.75
290.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.38E£19.49
457.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.37E£18.84
670.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.50E£25.67
294.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.50E£25.49
260.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.27E£13.72
437.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.17E£8.59
405.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$1.89E£96.7
258.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$4.27E£218
85.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.47E£75.1
-5.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.64E£83.9
44.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.16E£8.32
1725.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.31E£15.87
1338.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.23E£11.74
791.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$1.96E£99.9
1407.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.33E£17.08
451.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$30.8KE£1.6M
26.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$36.2KE£1.9M
-8.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$19.68E£1,005
861.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$7.27E£371
213.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$10.63E£543
253.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$22.07E£1,127
161.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.87E£351
57.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$97.0E£4,954
650.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$2,599E£132.7K
468.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$16.96E£866
422.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$62.0E£3,166
-40.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$83.3E£4,252
22.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$50.3E£2,567
130.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$192E£9,793
718.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$101E£5,136
1111.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$304E£15.5K
819.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$178E£9,114
1006.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$871E£44.5K
789.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$462E£23.6K
1020.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Al `arish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
23.33
-85.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Al `arish: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $192 in Al `arish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $14.00 in Al `arish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $114 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 402% 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 vs Al `arish?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $698 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 vs Al `arish?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $192 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 Al `arish?
Supermarket bills run roughly 179% 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 $2,337 per month in Barcelona versus $466 in Al `arish – a 402% 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 Al `arish?
At $466 in Al `arish versus $2,337 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 $466 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 402% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.