Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Fes Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Fes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $645 in Fes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,031 in Fes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,417 in Fes.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 262% more expensive than Fes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Fes is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.72
$3.75 MAD 34.73
355.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.7
$33.19 MAD 307
108.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 €11.87
$5.90 MAD 54.5
133.56%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.37
$1.57 MAD 14.49
75.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.40
$0.48 MAD 4.47
481.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.72
$0.41 MAD 3.77
385.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.76
$2.97 MAD 27.51
46.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 €4.09
$3.35 MAD 30.97
41.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.11
$0.90 MAD 8.33
43.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.56 MAD 5.21
266.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.65 MAD 15.23
20.61%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.92
$2.00 MAD 18.47
69.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.81 €16.21
$12.28 MAD 114
53.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 €8.07
$5.21 MAD 48.19
79.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.12 €16.48
$9.82 MAD 90.9
94.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.32
$1.13 MAD 10.47
138.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$1.26 MAD 11.61
85.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.83
$0.73 MAD 6.77
190.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$0.87 MAD 8.05
227.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.70
$0.80 MAD 7.44
146.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 €1.55
$0.88 MAD 8.15
104.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.25
$0.47 MAD 4.35
208.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.64 MAD 5.92
34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.84
$4.13 MAD 38.17
64.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 €6.81
$5.00 MAD 46.21
58.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.51 MAD 23.22
-44.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.32 MAD 30.70
-28.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 €2.52
$0.45 MAD 4.19
548.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.69 €24.72
$11.06 MAD 102
159.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 €3.84
$0.68 MAD 6.31
555.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.49 MAD 4.49
318.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 €25.46
$4.30 MAD 39.74
587.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.56
$1.58 MAD 14.64
15.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K €33.5K
$37.7K MAD 348.8K
2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.5K
$29.6K MAD 274.2K
11.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €163
$34.34 MAD 318
451.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80 €19.65
$11.05 MAD 102
106.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59 €32.39
$25.36 MAD 235
48.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 €49.75
$26.62 MAD 246
116.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74 €17.87
$24.84 MAD 230
-16.51%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82 €9.33
$5.36 MAD 49.54
101.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$728 €628
$53.7 MAD 497
1255.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K €12.7K
$3,330 MAD 30.8K
343.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6 €76.4
$33.27 MAD 308
166.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85 €31.75
$33.72 MAD 312
9.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.9
$85.5 MAD 791
19.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €100
$63.3 MAD 586
83.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 €1,352
$285 MAD 2,639
449.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,050
$149 MAD 1,375
719.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 €2,409
$412 MAD 3,808
579.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,975 €1,702
$217 MAD 2,010
808.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,754 €6,680
$743 MAD 6,869
944.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,176 €4,460
$356 MAD 3,292
1354.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Fes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,343 €2,019
$513 MAD 4,747
356.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
4.5
-24.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026

Last update for Fes: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $285 in Fes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 357% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Fes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $185 per month, with Fes 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 Fes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Fes?
Barcelona and Fes differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $645 including rent). Fes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Fes?
Barcelona pays 357% 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 Fes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $285 in Fes. 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 Fes?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $53.7 in Fes. 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 72% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $645 in Fes versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fes but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Fes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Fes?
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 Fes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Fes 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 Fes?
Expats usually find Fes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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