😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $617 in Guelmim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $997 in Guelmim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,378 in Guelmim.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 284% more expensive than Guelmim, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Guelmim is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$2.76MAD 25.34
536.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$25.29MAD 232
170.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$6.72MAD 61.8
109.23%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.75MAD 16.09
58.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.66MAD 6.09
324.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.26MAD 2.36
692.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$3.73MAD 34.26
19.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$3.72MAD 34.20
23.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.91MAD 8.41
36.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.37MAD 3.39
448.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.92MAD 8.44
108.70%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.79MAD 16.50
84.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$7.15MAD 65.7
157.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$3.32MAD 30.47
185.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$10.12MAD 93.0
89.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.40MAD 12.87
88.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.24MAD 11.42
97.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$0.82MAD 7.51
158.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.59MAD 5.46
383.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.65MAD 5.97
213.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.63MAD 5.82
193.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.68MAD 6.26
116.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.64MAD 5.88
31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$4.09MAD 37.58
74.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$7.12MAD 65.5
10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.30MAD 11.95
6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.57MAD 14.41
47.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.74MAD 6.83
302.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$16.62MAD 153
76.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.69MAD 6.31
566.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.63MAD 5.75
228.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$6.68MAD 61.4
336.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.57MAD 14.44
17.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$27.3KMAD 251.1K
42.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$21.0KMAD 193.0K
55.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$28.49MAD 262
559.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$10.86MAD 99.8
111.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$22.01MAD 202
66.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$24.45MAD 225
134.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$23.38MAD 215
-11.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$6.67MAD 61.3
67.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$77.0MAD 707
836.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$1,929MAD 17.7K
679.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$19.31MAD 177
346.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$16.56MAD 152
123.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$49.32MAD 453
106.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$33.53MAD 308
245.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$289MAD 2,660
429.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$195MAD 1,796
524.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$588MAD 5,404
358.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$383MAD 3,523
425.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,589MAD 14.6K
354.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$943MAD 8,668
450.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$331MAD 3,041
613.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.5
-38.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Guelmim: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $289 in Guelmim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 613% 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 $25.00 in Guelmim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $150 per month, with Guelmim 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 Guelmim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Guelmim?
Barcelona and Guelmim differ by about 284% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $617 including rent). Guelmim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Guelmim?
Barcelona pays 613% 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 Guelmim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $289 in Guelmim. 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 Guelmim?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $77.0 in Guelmim. 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 111% 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 $617 in Guelmim versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guelmim but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Guelmim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Guelmim?
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 Guelmim safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Guelmim 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 Guelmim?
Expats usually find Guelmim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 284% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.