😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $619 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $965 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,312 in Guelma.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 278% more expensive than Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Guelma is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$3.16DZD 419
440.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$23.35DZD 3,094
196.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$4.00DZD 530
244.50%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$0.78DZD 103
253.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.62DZD 82.0
350.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.23DZD 30.54
765.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.91DZD 254
128.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.30DZD 305
106.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.03DZD 137
25.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.14DZD 19.13
1364.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.64DZD 217
21.34%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.86DZD 247
82.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$9.05DZD 1,199
107.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$5.23DZD 693
78.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$16.46DZD 2,182
16.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.23DZD 428
-16.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.81DZD 372
-16.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.75DZD 232
21.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.79DZD 105
260.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.59DZD 77.9
233.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.50DZD 66.8
260.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.65DZD 86.3
123.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.28DZD 36.70
207.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.70DZD 358
151.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.79DZD 900
16.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.33DZD 176
4.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.08DZD 275
13.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.23DZD 30.30
1169.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$17.25DZD 2,287
66.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.67DZD 88.8
565.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.34DZD 44.71
502.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$5.26DZD 697
461.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.37DZD 48.51
391.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
19.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$33.6KDZD 4.4M
-1.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$41.33DZD 5,478
357.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$9.21DZD 1,221
147.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$17.03DZD 2,257
120.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$23.07DZD 3,057
150.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.44DZD 721
98.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$94.6DZD 12.5K
670.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,642DZD 482.7K
305.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$36.56DZD 4,846
142.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$46.15DZD 6,117
-20.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$74.3DZD 9,840
37.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$78.0DZD 10.3K
48.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$194DZD 25.7K
710.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$115DZD 15.2K
959.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$274DZD 36.4K
918.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$184DZD 24.4K
971.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,153DZD 152.9K
572.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,128DZD 149.5K
358.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$306DZD 40.5K
666.26%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Guelma: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $194 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $23.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $205 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 278% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $619 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 666% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $194 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $94.6 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 $619 in Guelma versus $2,337 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 278% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.