😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $603 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $958 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,312 in Guelma.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 291% more expensive than in Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Guelma is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$3.26DZD 431
426.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$23.27DZD 3,077
192.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.98DZD 526
242.71%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$0.77DZD 102
261.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.61DZD 80.3
362.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.21DZD 27.75
833.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.90DZD 252
133.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.41DZD 318
91.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$0.99DZD 131
28.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.16DZD 20.71
1231.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.61DZD 213
23.60%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.87DZD 248
80.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$8.93DZD 1,181
112.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$5.43DZD 718
75.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$16.83DZD 2,226
11.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.17DZD 419
-16.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.91DZD 385
-19.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.69DZD 223
23.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.76DZD 100
259.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.59DZD 77.6
232.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.49DZD 64.9
269.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.61DZD 80.2
147.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.28DZD 37.01
217.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.81DZD 371
141.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$6.93DZD 917
14.29%
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
$2.14DZD 283
12.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.25DZD 33.10
1064.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$17.15DZD 2,268
67.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.65DZD 85.7
604.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.34DZD 44.56
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$5.19DZD 687
453.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.33DZD 44.09
451.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
21.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
-4.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$41.42DZD 5,477
350.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$9.18DZD 1,214
142.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$16.81DZD 2,223
116.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$23.68DZD 3,132
142.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$5.42DZD 717
98.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$93.0DZD 12.3K
679.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$3,547DZD 468.9K
327.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$36.88DZD 4,877
138.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$45.40DZD 6,003
-18.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$76.6DZD 10.1K
34.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$77.4DZD 10.2K
53.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$195DZD 25.8K
679.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$114DZD 15.1K
975.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$277DZD 36.6K
885.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$182DZD 24.0K
991.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,147DZD 151.6K
551.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,131DZD 149.6K
363.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$312DZD 41.3K
665.90%
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 Guelma: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $195 in Guelma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 666% 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 $23.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $207 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 in Guelma?
Barcelona and Guelma differ by about 291% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $603 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?
Average pay runs 666% 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 Guelma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $195 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $93.0 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 54% 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 $603 in Guelma versus $2,359 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 291% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.