đMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $659 in Algiers.
đEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,061 in Algiers.
đMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,462 in Algiers.
đLiving in Barcelona is roughly 255% more expensive than Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.
đThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Algiers is 51% below.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61âŹ15.08
$3.20DZDÂ 424
450.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7âŹ58.8
$23.36DZDÂ 3,096
194.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75âŹ11.77
$4.83DZDÂ 639
184.68%
Cappuccino
$2.76âŹ2.36
$1.03DZDÂ 136
167.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78âŹ2.38
$0.62DZDÂ 81.6
348.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05âŹ1.75
$0.23DZDÂ 30.51
791.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61âŹ3.94
$1.92DZDÂ 255
140.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59âŹ3.93
$2.33DZDÂ 309
97.00%
đ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28âŹ1.10
$1.00DZDÂ 133
28.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11âŹ1.81
$0.16DZDÂ 20.71
1218.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97âŹ1.69
$1.82DZDÂ 241
8.24%
Eggs
$3.44âŹ2.95
$1.80DZDÂ 238
91.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83âŹ16.12
$8.96DZDÂ 1,187
110.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45âŹ8.09
$5.40DZDÂ 716
75.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01âŹ16.27
$16.21DZDÂ 2,148
17.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72âŹ2.33
$3.09DZDÂ 410
-11.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37âŹ2.03
$2.90DZDÂ 384
-18.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08âŹ1.78
$1.72DZDÂ 228
20.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76âŹ2.36
$0.93DZDÂ 123
196.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97âŹ1.69
$0.64DZDÂ 84.9
207.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79âŹ1.53
$0.49DZDÂ 65.4
265.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŹ1.29
$0.67DZDÂ 88.5
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90âŹ0.77
$0.30DZDÂ 39.95
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76âŹ5.79
$2.80DZDÂ 371
141.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55âŹ6.46
$6.87DZDÂ 910
9.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44âŹ1.23
$1.28DZDÂ 170
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41âŹ2.06
$2.16DZDÂ 286
11.57%
đ Getting Around
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03âŹ2.59
$0.33DZDÂ 44.23
818.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39âŹ24.30
$11.73DZDÂ 1,555
142.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43âŹ3.79
$0.66DZDÂ 87.1
571.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05âŹ1.76
$0.37DZDÂ 48.59
454.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33âŹ25.11
$5.69DZDÂ 754
415.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89âŹ1.62
$0.36DZDÂ 48.34
425.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KâŹ33.2K
$36.1KDZDÂ 4.8M
7.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KâŹ27.7K
$33.4KDZDÂ 4.4M
-2.99%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189âŹ161
$39.90DZDÂ 5,287
372.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21âŹ19.01
$9.25DZDÂ 1,225
140.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82âŹ31.52
$18.01DZDÂ 2,387
104.44%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0âŹ49.64
$24.77DZDÂ 3,283
134.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99âŹ17.97
$22.36DZDÂ 2,963
-6.13%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05âŹ9.46
$6.03DZDÂ 799
83.25%
𧸠Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726âŹ622
$92.7DZDÂ 12.3K
683.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KâŹ13.0K
$3,598DZDÂ 476.7K
323.18%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3âŹ75.6
$36.81DZDÂ 4,877
139.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98âŹ31.66
$44.66DZDÂ 5,917
-17.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103âŹ87.8
$74.7DZDÂ 9,900
37.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŹ102
$78.6DZDÂ 10.4K
51.78%
đ Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526âŹ1,307
$225DZDÂ 29.8K
577.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218âŹ1,043
$149DZDÂ 19.7K
719.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794âŹ2,392
$434DZDÂ 57.5K
543.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027âŹ1,735
$258DZDÂ 34.1K
687.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094âŹ6,073
$2,614DZDÂ 346.4K
171.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849âŹ4,151
$1,433DZDÂ 189.9K
238.44%
đľ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404âŹ2,058
$340DZDÂ 45.1K
606.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.42
-37.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Algiers: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $225 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
đ°Barcelona pays 607% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
đDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $23.00 in Algiers for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $207 per month, with Algiers 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 Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Algiers cheaper than Barcelona?
Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 255% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Barcelona or Algiers?
Barcelona pays 607% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Barcelona and Algiers?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $225 in Algiers. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or Algiers?
Dining out is cheaper in Algiers â a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Barcelona vs Algiers?
All in, you'll spend $2,341 per month in Barcelona versus $659 in Algiers â a 255% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Barcelona or Algiers?
At $659 in Algiers versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Barcelona or Algiers more family-friendly?
For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barcelona, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Barcelona or Algiers?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Algiers 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet â expenses run 255% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.