😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $553 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $881 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,208 in Guelma.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 348% more expensive than in Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Guelma is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.31
$3.19DZD 425
487.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$17.03DZD 2,266
307.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.98
$4.08DZD 544
237.50%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$0.74DZD 98.9
318.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.46
$0.66DZD 88.0
328.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.30DZD 40.29
526.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.53DZD 204
160.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.94
$2.12DZD 283
113.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.91DZD 121
39.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.14DZD 19.07
1442.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.15DZD 153
53.04%
Eggs
$5.13€4.46
$1.39DZD 185
269.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.56
$8.22DZD 1,094
117.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.40
$4.05DZD 539
138.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.54
$14.66DZD 1,952
37.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$2.19DZD 291
48.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.84DZD 377
-21.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.26
$1.12DZD 148
132.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.93DZD 124
196.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.92
$0.65DZD 86.2
240.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$0.51DZD 68.0
315.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.71DZD 94.5
118.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.26DZD 34.53
265.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.39
$2.75DZD 366
166.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.00
$6.90DZD 918
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.34
$1.13DZD 151
36.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.94DZD 259
43.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.70
$0.17DZD 22.74
1729.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.51
$6.02DZD 802
329.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.59DZD 78.6
454.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.42DZD 56.1
252.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.83
$5.04DZD 671
579.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.50
$0.36DZD 48.39
380.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$35.7KDZD 4.8M
-14.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$38.32DZD 5,100
388.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.18
$9.03DZD 1,202
67.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.80
$12.46DZD 1,658
202.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.68
$20.91DZD 2,783
167.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.93
$4.58DZD 609
149.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€867
$100DZD 13.3K
894.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$3,647DZD 485.5K
353.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.6
$32.92DZD 4,382
181.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.88
$35.23DZD 4,689
17.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.8
$70.1DZD 9,325
58.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$76.3DZD 10.2K
63.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,486
$158DZD 21.1K
978.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,119
$106DZD 14.1K
1113.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,233
$283DZD 37.7K
806.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,690
$210DZD 28.0K
824.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,655
$1,275DZD 169.7K
499.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,497
$387DZD 51.5K
1236.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,044
$314DZD 41.7K
649.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
5.3
-40.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Guelma: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $158 in Guelma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 649% 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 $17.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $179 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 348% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $553 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 649% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $158 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $100 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 88% 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 $553 in Guelma versus $2,476 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 348% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.