😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $603 in Beni Mellal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $924 in Beni Mellal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,246 in Beni Mellal.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 293% more expensive than Beni Mellal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Beni Mellal is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$3.36MAD 30.92
423.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$22.07MAD 203
210.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$4.87MAD 44.83
188.71%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.25MAD 11.55
122.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.51MAD 4.73
449.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.36MAD 3.27
472.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$3.07MAD 28.30
45.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$2.45MAD 22.54
88.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.76MAD 6.99
63.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.51MAD 4.70
298.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.43MAD 13.13
34.27%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.44MAD 13.23
129.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$8.52MAD 78.4
116.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$6.77MAD 62.4
40.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$8.43MAD 77.7
127.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.18MAD 10.86
123.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.16MAD 10.69
111.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.72MAD 6.63
194.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.79MAD 7.26
260.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.46MAD 4.21
343.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.65MAD 5.97
184.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.36MAD 3.33
308.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.58MAD 5.34
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$4.07MAD 37.44
75.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$8.08MAD 74.4
-2.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.42MAD 13.06
-2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.85MAD 17.01
24.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.74MAD 6.84
302.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$9.01MAD 83.0
224.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$0.53MAD 4.84
767.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.88MAD 8.12
135.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$2.72MAD 25.09
972.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.53MAD 14.07
20.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$36.7KMAD 338.1K
6.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$29.3KMAD 269.8K
11.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$41.05MAD 378
357.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$10.88MAD 100
110.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$34.33MAD 316
6.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$18.67MAD 172
207.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$16.52MAD 152
25.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$6.63MAD 61.0
68.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$160MAD 1,473
350.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$6,587MAD 60.6K
128.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$37.82MAD 348
127.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$34.42MAD 317
7.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$76.0MAD 700
34.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$78.7MAD 725
47.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$173MAD 1,590
787.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$117MAD 1,079
941.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$293MAD 2,700
819.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$172MAD 1,587
1068.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.81
-29.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Beni Mellal: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $173 in Beni Mellal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Beni Mellal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $167 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 Beni Mellal?
Barcelona and Beni Mellal differ by about 293% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $603 including rent). Beni Mellal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Beni Mellal?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $904 in Beni Mellal 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 do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Beni Mellal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $173 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 $721 in Barcelona versus $160 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 91% 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 $603 in Beni Mellal versus $2,367 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 293% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.