😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $611 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $986 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,361 in Guelma.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 283% more expensive than Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Guelma is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$3.17DZD 421
455.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$23.99DZD 3,178
186.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$3.80DZD 504
261.84%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$0.72DZD 95.1
283.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.57DZD 75.7
387.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.21DZD 27.82
876.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.98DZD 262
132.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.35DZD 312
95.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$0.98DZD 130
30.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$0.16DZD 20.78
1218.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.62DZD 215
21.60%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.81DZD 240
90.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.17DZD 1,215
105.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$5.14DZD 682
83.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$16.73DZD 2,217
13.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.17DZD 420
-14.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.82DZD 374
-15.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.70DZD 226
22.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$0.79DZD 104
249.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.58DZD 77.0
239.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.50DZD 65.7
258.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.65DZD 85.6
132.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.28DZD 36.90
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.71DZD 359
149.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$7.21DZD 955
4.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.35DZD 180
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.07DZD 275
16.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.25DZD 33.32
1112.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$17.62DZD 2,335
61.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.67DZD 88.2
561.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.36DZD 47.99
469.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$5.34DZD 707
449.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.37DZD 48.41
410.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
20.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
-3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$40.48DZD 5,363
365.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$9.48DZD 1,256
134.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$16.90DZD 2,239
117.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$23.44DZD 3,105
147.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.38DZD 712
105.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$92.7DZD 12.3K
684.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,664DZD 485.4K
315.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$37.07DZD 4,912
138.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$44.82DZD 5,938
-17.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$75.3DZD 9,971
36.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$78.2DZD 10.4K
52.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$196DZD 26.0K
677.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$114DZD 15.1K
965.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$276DZD 36.6K
910.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$185DZD 24.5K
995.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$544DZD 72.1K
1203.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$392DZD 51.9K
1138.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$323DZD 42.8K
644.61%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Guelma: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $196 in Guelma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 645% 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 $24.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $206 per month, with Guelma 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 Guelma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Guelma?
Barcelona and Guelma differ by about 283% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $611 including rent). Guelma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Guelma?
Barcelona pays 645% 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 Guelma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $196 in Guelma. 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 Guelma?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $92.7 in Guelma. 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 55% 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 $611 in Guelma versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Guelma but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Guelma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Guelma?
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 Guelma safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Guelma 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 Guelma?
Expats usually find Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 283% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.