😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,387 in Ar-rawdah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,324 in Ar-rawdah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $3,261 in Ar-rawdah.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 67% more expensive than in Ar-rawdah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Ar-rawdah4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$9.76KWD 3.02
80.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$80.3KWD 24.89
-13.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$9.16KWD 2.84
54.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.52KWD 0.78
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59KWD 1.11
-
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$5.88KWD 1.82
-52.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.64KWD 0.20
339.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.38KWD 0.12
442.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.60KWD 0.50
-23.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.26KWD 0.39
61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.72KWD 0.53
15.12%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.09KWD 0.65
66.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$5.25KWD 1.63
249.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.43KWD 1.99
52.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.13KWD 3.14
88.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.41KWD 0.75
13.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.95KWD 0.60
22.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.80KWD 0.56
15.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.45KWD 0.45
89.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.23KWD 0.38
59.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.28KWD 0.40
39.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.69KWD 0.52
-12.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.48KWD 0.15
89.58%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.31KWD 1.03
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34KWD 0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.00KWD 0.93
137.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.88KWD 0.27
242.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$43.51KWD 13.48
-32.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.34KWD 1.04
30.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.28KWD 1.02
-35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$16.02KWD 4.96
84.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.34KWD 0.10
435.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$21.2KKWD 6,581
78.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$19.9KKWD 6,177
62.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$61.9KWD 19.17
205.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$18.84KWD 5.84
18.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$26.31KWD 8.15
41.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$93.4KWD 28.93
-37.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$45.48KWD 14.09
-54.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$11.60KWD 3.59
-6.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$408KWD 126
73.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,519KWD 2,020
128.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$42.73KWD 13.24
109.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$42.53KWD 13.18
-13.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$87.0KWD 26.96
19.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$81.9KWD 25.39
45.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$788KWD 244
100.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$620KWD 192
99.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,601KWD 496
69.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,291KWD 400
58.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$1,628KWD 505
221.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.14
-52.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ar-rawdah: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $788 in Ar-rawdah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $80.0 in Ar-rawdah. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $179, with Ar-rawdah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ar-rawdah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Ar-rawdah?
Ar-rawdah wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rawdah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Barcelona and in Ar-rawdah?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $2,080 in Ar-rawdah 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 compared to Ar-rawdah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $788 in Ar-rawdah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Barcelona or in Ar-rawdah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Barcelona and in Ar-rawdah?
Dining out is cheaper in Ar-rawdah – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barcelona or in Ar-rawdah?
At $1,387 in Ar-rawdah versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rawdah but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rawdah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Ar-rawdah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ar-rawdah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,387 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ar-rawdah hard to pass up.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Ar-rawdah?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ar-rawdah 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 Ar-rawdah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.