😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,014 in Casablanca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,561 in Casablanca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,108 in Casablanca.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 133% more expensive than Casablanca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Casablanca is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$5.57MAD 51.3
215.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$32.50MAD 299
110.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$8.00MAD 73.7
75.75%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.30MAD 21.17
20.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.68MAD 6.30
311.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.47MAD 4.28
338.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$3.79MAD 34.92
17.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$4.47MAD 41.20
3.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.93MAD 8.60
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.77MAD 7.07
163.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.93MAD 17.76
-0.52%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.00MAD 18.42
65.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$11.50MAD 106
60.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$7.44MAD 68.6
27.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.49
$11.75MAD 108
63.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.84MAD 16.96
43.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.59MAD 14.66
54.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.86MAD 7.89
146.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.81MAD 7.48
251.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.77MAD 7.14
164.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.74MAD 6.86
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.45MAD 4.15
226.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.58MAD 5.36
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$4.38MAD 40.32
63.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$8.26MAD 76.1
-4.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.79MAD 25.69
-50.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.92MAD 26.88
-20.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.74MAD 6.81
302.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.19
$25.24MAD 232
15.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$0.91MAD 8.42
405.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.82MAD 7.58
152.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.12
$5.40MAD 49.75
440.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.46MAD 13.44
26.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$36.7KMAD 338.3K
6.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$29.1KMAD 268.1K
12.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$49.48MAD 456
279.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.74
$12.14MAD 112
88.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$42.05MAD 387
-12.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.39
$29.44MAD 271
94.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$41.26MAD 380
-49.83%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$8.87MAD 81.7
26.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$207MAD 1,911
247.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$5,466MAD 50.3K
175.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$66.7MAD 614
29.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$54.5MAD 502
-31.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$110MAD 1,012
-7.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$92.5MAD 852
25.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,320
$590MAD 5,436
159.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$346MAD 3,184
252.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$1,117MAD 10.3K
141.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,733
$582MAD 5,363
245.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,216
$2,245MAD 20.7K
221.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,467
$1,217MAD 11.2K
326.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Casablanca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,031
$640MAD 5,893
268.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.29
-35.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Casablanca: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $590 in Casablanca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 269% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Casablanca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $215 per month, with Casablanca 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 Casablanca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Casablanca?
Barcelona and Casablanca differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,014 including rent). Casablanca is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Casablanca?
Barcelona pays 269% more on average, 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 Casablanca?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $590 in Casablanca. 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 Casablanca?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $207 in Casablanca. 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 48% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,014 in Casablanca versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Casablanca but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Casablanca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Casablanca?
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 Casablanca safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Casablanca 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 Casablanca?
Expats usually find Casablanca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.