😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $610 in Guelmim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $992 in Guelmim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,374 in Guelmim.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 280% more expensive than in Guelmim, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Guelmim is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$2.69MAD 25.13
556.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$25.16MAD 235
176.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$6.77MAD 63.4
109.16%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.67MAD 15.64
67.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.63MAD 5.85
346.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.28MAD 2.64
635.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$3.65MAD 34.12
26.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.68MAD 34.41
27.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.87MAD 8.10
41.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.36MAD 3.39
463.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$0.92MAD 8.59
115.22%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.84MAD 17.19
89.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$7.10MAD 66.4
158.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$3.24MAD 30.33
203.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.10MAD 94.5
89.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.35MAD 12.66
102.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.22MAD 11.46
95.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$0.88MAD 8.24
136.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.64MAD 5.97
329.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.68MAD 6.32
188.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.69MAD 6.46
159.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.63MAD 5.88
134.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.61MAD 5.75
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.00MAD 37.38
78.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$6.87MAD 64.3
14.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.35MAD 12.67
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.63MAD 15.27
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.79MAD 7.41
281.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$16.50MAD 154
77.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.64MAD 5.99
581.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.59MAD 5.48
261.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$6.78MAD 63.4
336.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.55MAD 14.46
17.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$27.7KMAD 259.0K
36.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$20.3KMAD 190.4K
59.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$28.31MAD 265
567.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$10.80MAD 101
106.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$22.06MAD 206
68.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$24.54MAD 230
136.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$23.12MAD 216
-10.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$6.69MAD 62.6
62.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$77.8MAD 728
807.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$1,955MAD 18.3K
660.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$19.12MAD 179
367.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$16.63MAD 156
120.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$48.30MAD 452
115.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$32.65MAD 306
265.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$286MAD 2,679
451.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$200MAD 1,869
519.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$599MAD 5,603
352.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$387MAD 3,624
426.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$1,210MAD 11.3K
522.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$895MAD 8,378
485.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guelmim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$317MAD 2,964
646.32%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Guelmim: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $286 in Guelmim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 646% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $25.00 in Guelmim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $149 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 280% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $610 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 646% 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: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $286 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $77.8 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 115% 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 $610 in Guelmim versus $2,320 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 280% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.