😐A single person spends $2,320 per month in Barcelona vs $593 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,426 per month in Barcelona vs $1,041 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,532 per month in Barcelona vs $1,490 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐Barcelona costs about 291% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Barcelona sits 74% above the global median, while Al Mafraq is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$4.30JOD 3.05
310.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$49.66JOD 35.16
40.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$4.25JOD 3.01
233.18%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.38JOD 0.98
102.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.34JOD 0.24
726.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.34JOD 0.24
505.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$5.77JOD 4.09
-20.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$6.86JOD 4.86
-31.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.03JOD 0.73
19.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.29JOD 0.21
600.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.10JOD 0.78
80.00%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.26JOD 0.89
176.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$5.59JOD 3.96
227.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$3.47JOD 2.46
183.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$4.80JOD 3.40
298.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$0.69JOD 0.49
295.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$0.87JOD 0.62
173.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.39JOD 0.98
49.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.33JOD 0.24
733.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.89JOD 0.63
120.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.55JOD 0.39
225.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.66JOD 0.47
124.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.41JOD 0.29
121.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.48JOD 2.46
104.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$20.98JOD 14.85
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$4.72JOD 3.34
-70.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$5.28JOD 3.74
-54.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.34JOD 0.24
785.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.73JOD 0.52
497.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.43JOD 1.01
48.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$7.01JOD 4.97
322.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.42JOD 1.00
28.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$27.0KJOD 19.1K
40.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$32.3KJOD 22.8K
0.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$105JOD 74.5
79.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$16.89JOD 11.96
31.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$28.44JOD 20.14
30.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$28.12JOD 19.91
106.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$11.35JOD 8.03
-4.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$70.9JOD 50.2
896.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$5,480JOD 3,880
171.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$27.85JOD 19.71
221.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$49.79JOD 35.25
-26.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$115JOD 81.6
-9.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$41.86JOD 29.64
185.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$69.3JOD 49.03
2179.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$283JOD 200
858.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$144JOD 102
1318.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Al Mafraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$1,070JOD 757
120.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.27
-53.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Al Mafraq: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Barcelona versus $69.3 in Al Mafraq. 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 121% higher in Barcelona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Barcelona versus $50.0 in Al Mafraq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $175 – making Al Mafraq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Mafraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Mafraq cheaper than Barcelona?
Yes – Barcelona is pricier by about 291%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,480 per month in Barcelona and $890 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Mafraq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or in Al Mafraq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Barcelona and $50.0 in Al Mafraq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Barcelona and in Al Mafraq?
Groceries cost about 83% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Barcelona or in Al Mafraq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Barcelona at $2,320. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barcelona or Al Mafraq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Barcelona or Al Mafraq?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Mafraq. 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.