😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $615 in El Oued.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $978 in El Oued.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,341 in El Oued.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 290% more expensive than El Oued, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, El Oued is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$2.84DZD 376
522.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$19.03DZD 2,524
268.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$4.45DZD 590
206.97%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$1.25DZD 166
119.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.57DZD 75.9
389.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.25DZD 33.41
684.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.92DZD 254
127.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.35DZD 311
94.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.02DZD 136
26.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.14DZD 18.53
1364.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.64DZD 218
20.73%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.79DZD 238
89.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$9.05DZD 1,199
105.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$5.25DZD 696
82.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$16.34DZD 2,166
15.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$3.07DZD 407
-10.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.87DZD 380
-13.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.71DZD 227
22.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$0.79DZD 104
256.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$0.59DZD 78.2
242.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.50DZD 66.6
270.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.65DZD 86.2
132.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.28DZD 36.86
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.68DZD 355
163.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$7.21DZD 956
10.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.29DZD 171
10.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.09DZD 278
9.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.23DZD 30.48
1152.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$17.27DZD 2,291
64.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$0.70DZD 92.7
525.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.36DZD 47.87
494.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$5.38DZD 713
441.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$0.36DZD 48.37
416.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$32.7KDZD 4.3M
19.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$41.18DZD 5,461
359.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$9.49DZD 1,258
139.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$16.74DZD 2,219
118.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$23.02DZD 3,052
150.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$5.27DZD 699
105.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$92.9DZD 12.3K
681.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$3,624DZD 480.5K
316.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$36.36DZD 4,821
141.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$45.95DZD 6,093
-19.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$76.1DZD 10.1K
36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$77.0DZD 10.2K
51.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$191DZD 25.4K
722.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$117DZD 15.5K
945.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$276DZD 36.6K
883.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$183DZD 24.2K
975.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$1,151DZD 152.6K
578.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$1,128DZD 149.6K
366.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$247DZD 32.8K
861.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.42
-37.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for El Oued: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $191 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 861% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $19.00 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $205 per month, with El Oued 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 El Oued: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and El Oued?
Barcelona and El Oued differ by about 290% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $615 including rent). El Oued is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or El Oued?
Barcelona pays 861% 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 El Oued?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $191 in El Oued. 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 El Oued?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $92.9 in El Oued. 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 56% 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 $615 in El Oued versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Oued but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes El Oued the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and El Oued?
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 El Oued safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and El Oued 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 El Oued?
Expats usually find El Oued gentler on the wallet – expenses run 290% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.