πA single person spends $2,341 per month in Barcelona vs $514 in Al-qardahah, rent included.
πA couple spends around $3,462 per month in Barcelona vs $800 in Al-qardahah, rent included.
πA family of three spends $4,582 per month in Barcelona vs $1,085 in Al-qardahah, rent included.
πBarcelona costs about 355% more than Al-qardahah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBarcelona sits 75% above the global median, while Al-qardahah is 62% below β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61β¬15.08
$5.87SYPΒ 666
200.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7β¬58.8
$27.06SYPΒ 3,070
153.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75β¬11.77
$5.38SYPΒ 610
155.58%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.36
$1.56SYPΒ 177
76.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.38
$1.17SYPΒ 133
137.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05β¬1.75
$0.73SYPΒ 82.5
180.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61β¬3.94
$1.57SYPΒ 178
193.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59β¬3.93
$2.55SYPΒ 290
80.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.10
$0.96SYPΒ 109
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11β¬1.81
$0.59SYPΒ 66.5
257.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.69SYPΒ 192
16.57%
Eggs
$3.44β¬2.95
$1.94SYPΒ 220
77.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83β¬16.12
$3.10SYPΒ 351
507.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45β¬8.09
$7.84SYPΒ 890
20.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01β¬16.27
$11.25SYPΒ 1,277
68.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72β¬2.33
$0.92SYPΒ 104
195.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37β¬2.03
$1.80SYPΒ 204
31.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.78
$1.03SYPΒ 117
101.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76β¬2.36
$0.88SYPΒ 100
213.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$0.66SYPΒ 74.4
198.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.53
$0.62SYPΒ 70.7
188.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51β¬1.29
$0.38SYPΒ 42.70
297.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β¬0.77
$0.63SYPΒ 71.1
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76β¬5.79
$3.04SYPΒ 344
122.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55β¬6.46
$8.05SYPΒ 913
-6.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.23
$1.01SYPΒ 115
42.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41β¬2.06
$1.82SYPΒ 207
32.42%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03β¬2.59
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39β¬24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.79
$0.98SYPΒ 111
352.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.76
$1.22SYPΒ 138
68.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33β¬25.11
$6.51SYPΒ 738
350.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.62
$3.68SYPΒ 417
-48.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7Kβ¬33.2K
$18.7KSYPΒ 2.1M
107.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.7K
$20.7KSYPΒ 2.3M
56.54%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬161
$100SYPΒ 11.4K
87.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21β¬19.01
$8.32SYPΒ 944
166.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82β¬31.52
$55.7SYPΒ 6,319
-33.88%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.64
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05β¬9.46
$2.95SYPΒ 335
274.58%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726β¬622
$43.49SYPΒ 4,935
1570.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$1,834SYPΒ 208.1K
730.18%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3β¬75.6
$29.38SYPΒ 3,334
200.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98β¬31.66
$25.82SYPΒ 2,929
43.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103β¬87.8
$44.10SYPΒ 5,004
132.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119β¬102
$55.9SYPΒ 6,339
113.43%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526β¬1,307
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,043
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794β¬2,392
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027β¬1,735
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094β¬6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849β¬4,151
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Al-qardahah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404β¬2,058
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.75
-75.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Al-qardahah: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona versus $27.00 in Al-qardahah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $173 β making Al-qardahah 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-qardahah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-qardahah cheaper than Barcelona?
Yes β Barcelona is pricier by about 355%, 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 $3,512 per month in Barcelona and $771 in Al-qardahah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or Al-qardahah?
How do food prices compare in Barcelona and Al-qardahah?
Groceries cost about 85% 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 Barcelona or Al-qardahah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-qardahah, where all-in costs run around $514, than in Barcelona at $2,341. In Al-qardahah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barcelona or Al-qardahah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-qardahah β 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-qardahah?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-qardahah. 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.