😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $571 in Guelmim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $934 in Guelmim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,298 in Guelmim.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 334% more expensive than in Guelmim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Guelmim is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$5.43MAD 51.5
245.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$25.09MAD 238
176.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$7.28MAD 69.1
89.15%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.08MAD 19.72
49.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.89MAD 8.41
217.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.35MAD 3.32
437.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$5.30MAD 50.3
-24.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$4.55MAD 43.13
-0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.90MAD 8.49
41.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.46MAD 4.35
369.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.05MAD 9.93
67.62%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.66MAD 15.75
209.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$8.43MAD 79.9
112.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$3.34MAD 31.63
188.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$9.03MAD 85.6
123.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$1.26MAD 11.99
157.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.20MAD 11.41
85.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$0.88MAD 8.31
195.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.65MAD 6.18
324.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.61MAD 5.79
262.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.60MAD 5.71
253.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.59MAD 5.63
162.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.56MAD 5.29
69.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$4.29MAD 40.69
71.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$11.83MAD 112
-31.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.28MAD 12.16
20.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.36MAD 12.88
105.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.75MAD 7.11
314.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$18.97MAD 180
36.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.64MAD 6.10
410.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.61MAD 5.79
142.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$6.15MAD 58.4
457.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.41MAD 13.35
22.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$34.7KMAD 329.3K
4.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$30.0KMAD 284.7K
1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$24.09MAD 228
676.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$10.64MAD 101
42.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$21.14MAD 201
78.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$26.08MAD 247
114.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$21.55MAD 204
-20.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$5.39MAD 51.1
111.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$69.9MAD 663
1325.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$1,925MAD 18.3K
758.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$18.66MAD 177
396.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$15.60MAD 148
164.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$59.5MAD 564
86.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$31.75MAD 301
294.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$193MAD 1,826
786.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$115MAD 1,087
1022.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$331MAD 3,138
675.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$226MAD 2,143
759.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,236MAD 11.7K
518.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$853MAD 8,089
505.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$320MAD 3,036
633.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.5
-51.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Guelmim: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $193 in Guelmim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 634% 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 $25.00 in Guelmim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $159 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 in Guelmim?
Barcelona and Guelmim differ by about 334% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $571 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?
Average pay runs 634% 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 Guelmim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $193 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $69.9 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 112% 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 $571 in Guelmim versus $2,476 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 334% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.