😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $560 in Gabes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $879 in Gabes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,199 in Gabes.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 317% more expensive than Gabes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Gabes is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$2.78TND 8.12
514.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$18.87TND 55.1
266.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.62TND 10.55
280.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$0.82TND 2.40
236.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.65TND 1.90
329.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.25TND 0.72
696.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.22TND 3.55
257.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$1.57TND 4.58
201.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.48TND 1.40
168.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.16TND 0.45
1181.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.28TND 3.73
55.47%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.71TND 5.00
98.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$12.24TND 35.70
53.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$5.67TND 16.54
65.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$14.07TND 41.06
35.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.56TND 4.56
73.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.95TND 8.61
-20.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.86TND 2.51
146.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.57TND 1.67
400.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.66TND 1.94
198.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.61TND 1.78
195.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.33TND 0.96
339.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.31TND 0.91
177.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.33TND 9.72
103.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$3.51TND 10.24
125.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$0.69TND 2.01
101.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$0.89TND 2.59
166.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.21TND 0.62
1290.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$6.83TND 19.94
320.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.29TND 0.84
1437.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.22TND 0.63
831.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$6.13TND 17.88
382.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.89TND 2.59
104.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$45.8KTND 133.8K
-15.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$28.4KTND 82.9K
16.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$63.5TND 185
198.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$7.60TND 22.17
200.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$16.77TND 48.93
124.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$31.63TND 92.3
82.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$4.87TND 14.21
325.87%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.32TND 18.44
71.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$58.2TND 170
1150.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,168TND 9,243
366.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$32.62TND 95.2
171.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$39.98TND 117
-7.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$76.4TND 223
33.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$84.4TND 246
37.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$113TND 330
1287.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$70.5TND 206
1628.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$204TND 596
1267.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$118TND 343
1578.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$998TND 2,913
676.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$639TND 1,864
710.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Gabes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$417TND 1,216
462.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
12
-71.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Gabes: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $113 in Gabes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 462% 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 $19.00 in Gabes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $178 per month, with Gabes 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 Gabes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Gabes?
Barcelona and Gabes differ by about 317% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $560 including rent). Gabes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Gabes?
Barcelona pays 462% 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 Gabes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $113 in Gabes. 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 Gabes?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $58.2 in Gabes. 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 79% 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 $560 in Gabes versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gabes but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Gabes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Gabes?
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 Gabes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Gabes 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 Gabes?
Expats usually find Gabes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 317% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.