😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $609 in El Oued.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $957 in El Oued.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,305 in El Oued.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 287% more expensive than in El Oued, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, El Oued is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$2.94DZD 388
483.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$19.57DZD 2,587
247.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$4.27DZD 565
219.44%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.27DZD 169
118.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.57DZD 75.8
394.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.23DZD 30.27
752.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.90DZD 251
133.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.43DZD 322
89.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.04DZD 137
22.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.13DZD 17.06
1538.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.56DZD 207
27.56%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.87DZD 247
80.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$8.79DZD 1,162
115.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$5.27DZD 697
80.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$16.24DZD 2,147
15.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.10DZD 410
-14.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.81DZD 371
-16.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.72DZD 228
21.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.73DZD 97.0
273.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.59DZD 78.2
232.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.49DZD 64.8
269.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.64DZD 84.7
135.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.30DZD 39.92
196.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.81DZD 371
141.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$6.73DZD 890
17.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.30DZD 172
5.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.17DZD 287
10.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.23DZD 30.15
1165.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$17.70DZD 2,340
61.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.70DZD 92.5
554.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.34DZD 44.83
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$5.37DZD 710
434.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.34DZD 44.91
435.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$41.48DZD 5,484
349.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$9.49DZD 1,255
134.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$17.01DZD 2,249
113.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$23.59DZD 3,120
143.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$5.29DZD 699
103.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$94.6DZD 12.5K
666.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$3,569DZD 471.9K
324.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$36.45DZD 4,819
141.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$44.57DZD 5,893
-17.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$76.2DZD 10.1K
35.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$78.7DZD 10.4K
50.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$196DZD 25.9K
678.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$114DZD 15.0K
978.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$272DZD 36.0K
901.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$182DZD 24.1K
988.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,144DZD 151.3K
552.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$993DZD 131.3K
427.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$260DZD 34.4K
819.84%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for El Oued: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $196 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 820% 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 $20.00 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $203 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 in El Oued?
Barcelona and El Oued differ by about 287% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $609 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?
Average pay runs 820% 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 El Oued?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $196 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $94.6 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 57% 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 $609 in El Oued versus $2,359 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 287% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.