Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Algiers Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Algiers

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $659 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,061 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,462 in Algiers.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 255% more expensive than Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Algiers is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 €15.08
$3.20 DZD 424
450.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €58.8
$23.36 DZD 3,096
194.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 €11.77
$4.83 DZD 639
184.68%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.36
$1.03 DZD 136
167.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.38
$0.62 DZD 81.6
348.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.75
$0.23 DZD 30.51
791.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.94
$1.92 DZD 255
140.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.93
$2.33 DZD 309
97.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.00 DZD 133
28.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$0.16 DZD 20.71
1218.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.82 DZD 241
8.24%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.95
$1.80 DZD 238
91.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.12
$8.96 DZD 1,187
110.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.09
$5.40 DZD 716
75.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.27
$16.21 DZD 2,148
17.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.33
$3.09 DZD 410
-11.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$2.90 DZD 384
-18.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$1.72 DZD 228
20.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$0.93 DZD 123
196.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.64 DZD 84.9
207.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$0.49 DZD 65.4
265.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
$0.67 DZD 88.5
125.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$0.30 DZD 39.95
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.79
$2.80 DZD 371
141.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.46
$6.87 DZD 910
9.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
$1.28 DZD 170
12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
$2.16 DZD 286
11.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
$0.33 DZD 44.23
818.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.30
$11.73 DZD 1,555
142.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.79
$0.66 DZD 87.1
571.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.76
$0.37 DZD 48.59
454.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.11
$5.69 DZD 754
415.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$0.36 DZD 48.34
425.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.2K
$36.1K DZD 4.8M
7.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.7K
$33.4K DZD 4.4M
-2.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$39.90 DZD 5,287
372.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €19.01
$9.25 DZD 1,225
140.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.52
$18.01 DZD 2,387
104.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.64
$24.77 DZD 3,283
134.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.97
$22.36 DZD 2,963
-6.13%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.46
$6.03 DZD 799
83.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €622
$92.7 DZD 12.3K
683.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$3,598 DZD 476.7K
323.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.6
$36.81 DZD 4,877
139.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €31.66
$44.66 DZD 5,917
-17.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €87.8
$74.7 DZD 9,900
37.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$78.6 DZD 10.4K
51.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,307
$225 DZD 29.8K
577.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,043
$149 DZD 19.7K
719.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,392
$434 DZD 57.5K
543.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,735
$258 DZD 34.1K
687.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,073
$2,614 DZD 346.4K
171.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,151
$1,433 DZD 189.9K
238.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Algiers
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,058
$340 DZD 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 – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Algiers: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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.

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.

Dining 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 – 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 – 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 – expenses run 255% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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