😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $633 in Beni Mellal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,001 in Beni Mellal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,369 in Beni Mellal.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 291% more expensive than in Beni Mellal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Beni Mellal is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$3.72MAD 35.32
403.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$26.16MAD 248
165.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$5.60MAD 53.1
145.89%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.31MAD 12.40
136.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.60MAD 5.73
371.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.35MAD 3.33
437.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.68MAD 25.45
48.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.09MAD 29.29
46.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.86MAD 8.13
47.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.64MAD 6.05
237.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.93MAD 18.30
-8.81%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.70MAD 16.11
201.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$11.36MAD 108
57.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$6.76MAD 64.1
42.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$10.40MAD 98.6
93.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$1.23MAD 11.62
164.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.08MAD 10.28
106.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$0.66MAD 6.28
293.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.82MAD 7.78
236.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.65MAD 6.14
240.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.77MAD 7.33
175.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.33MAD 3.16
369.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.60MAD 5.64
58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$3.97MAD 37.66
84.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$7.51MAD 71.2
7.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$2.72MAD 25.78
-43.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.66MAD 25.18
4.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.33MAD 3.15
842.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$8.66MAD 82.2
198.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.77MAD 7.26
324.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.94MAD 8.91
57.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$2.67MAD 25.29
1183.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.54MAD 14.63
12.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$34.0KMAD 322.8K
6.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$31.9KMAD 302.6K
-4.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$35.44MAD 336
427.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$10.13MAD 96.0
49.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$26.17MAD 248
44.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$21.23MAD 201
163.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$15.52MAD 147
10.05%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$6.40MAD 60.7
78.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$186MAD 1,759
437.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$6,892MAD 65.4K
139.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$49.10MAD 466
88.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$45.05MAD 427
-8.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$74.5MAD 706
49.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$67.7MAD 642
84.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$200MAD 1,897
753.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$130MAD 1,232
890.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$284MAD 2,698
801.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$200MAD 1,900
869.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$332MAD 3,146
608.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.52
-30.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Beni Mellal: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $200 in Beni Mellal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 608% 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 $26.00 in Beni Mellal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $194 per month, with Beni Mellal 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 Beni Mellal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Beni Mellal?
Barcelona and Beni Mellal differ by about 291% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $633 including rent). Beni Mellal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Beni Mellal?
Average pay runs 608% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Beni Mellal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $200 in Beni Mellal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Beni Mellal?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $186 in Beni Mellal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $633 in Beni Mellal versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beni Mellal but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Beni Mellal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Beni Mellal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Beni Mellal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Beni Mellal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Beni Mellal?
Expats usually find Beni Mellal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 291% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.