😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $598 in Beni Mellal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $936 in Beni Mellal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,274 in Beni Mellal.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 288% more expensive than in Beni Mellal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Beni Mellal is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$3.27MAD 30.60
440.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$22.35MAD 209
211.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.00MAD 46.74
183.20%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.23MAD 11.50
127.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.51MAD 4.75
450.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.35MAD 3.31
488.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.99MAD 27.95
53.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.40MAD 22.47
95.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.71MAD 6.69
73.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.48MAD 4.46
322.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.44MAD 13.52
37.50%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.48MAD 13.88
135.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$8.46MAD 79.2
116.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.72MAD 62.9
46.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$8.34MAD 78.1
129.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.23MAD 11.53
121.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.17MAD 10.97
103.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$0.66MAD 6.17
215.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.80MAD 7.52
243.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.45MAD 4.23
335.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.65MAD 6.09
175.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.37MAD 3.42
300.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.62MAD 5.84
46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.20MAD 39.29
69.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.63MAD 71.4
3.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.47MAD 13.72
-6.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.86MAD 17.36
28.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.69MAD 6.46
336.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$8.64MAD 80.8
239.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.53MAD 4.93
722.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.87MAD 8.16
144.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$2.71MAD 25.34
992.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.54MAD 14.41
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$36.5KMAD 342.0K
3.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$29.2KMAD 273.3K
10.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$40.76MAD 381
363.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$10.86MAD 102
105.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$35.31MAD 330
5.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$19.16MAD 179
202.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$16.50MAD 154
25.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$6.66MAD 62.3
63.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$161MAD 1,510
337.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,383MAD 59.7K
132.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$37.71MAD 353
137.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$34.71MAD 325
5.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$74.4MAD 696
39.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$79.5MAD 744
50.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$174MAD 1,630
805.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$115MAD 1,080
972.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$294MAD 2,749
823.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$173MAD 1,614
1082.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Beni Mellal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Beni Mellal: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $174 in Beni Mellal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Beni Mellal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $165 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 288% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $598 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 $3,480 in Barcelona and $897 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 in Beni Mellal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $174 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $161 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 93% 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 $598 in Beni Mellal versus $2,320 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 288% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.