😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,011 in Ha'il.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,581 in Ha'il.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,152 in Ha'il.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 145% more expensive than in Ha'il, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Ha'il is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.32
$5.21SAR 19.57
259.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$37.78SAR 142
83.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.99
$6.12SAR 22.98
125.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.18SAR 4.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.00SAR 7.52
-
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.63SAR 9.87
17.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.61SAR 2.29
363.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.24SAR 0.89
683.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.72SAR 6.45
-26.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.84SAR 3.16
157.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.89SAR 7.10
-6.88%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.94SAR 7.27
164.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.58
$6.82SAR 25.63
162.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$8.52SAR 32.01
13.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.55
$8.27SAR 31.06
143.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$1.54SAR 5.79
111.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.57SAR 5.90
42.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.25SAR 4.68
108.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$2.04SAR 7.68
35.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.32SAR 4.94
67.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.61SAR 6.05
31.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.14SAR 4.29
35.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.48SAR 1.82
97.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.74SAR 10.29
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69SAR 6.34
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15SAR 8.07
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$6.47SAR 24.29
13.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$1.10SAR 4.14
182.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.53
$36.42SAR 137
-29.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$2.87SAR 10.77
13.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.82SAR 6.82
-18.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.86
$13.42SAR 50.4
155.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.61SAR 2.27
183.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$45.0KSAR 169.0K
-19.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$21.6KSAR 81.3K
41.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$54.2SAR 204
244.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.19
$21.14SAR 79.4
-28.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.83
$46.43SAR 174
-18.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.73
$66.4SAR 249
-15.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.88
$36.77SAR 138
-53.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.94
$14.92SAR 56.0
-23.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€868
$349SAR 1,311
185.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$6,537SAR 24.5K
152.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.7
$50.8SAR 191
82.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.91
$59.0SAR 221
-30.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$97.2SAR 365
14.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$89.9SAR 337
39.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,487
$243SAR 912
603.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,120
$344SAR 1,292
273.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,235
$366SAR 1,374
601.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,692
$540SAR 2,030
259.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,662
$2,363SAR 8,874
223.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,501
$1,352SAR 5,076
282.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ha'il
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,046
$1,084SAR 4,070
116.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
5.47
-42.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ha'il: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $243 in Ha'il. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 117% 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 $38.00 in Ha'il for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $179 per month, with Ha'il 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 Ha'il: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Ha'il?
Barcelona and Ha'il differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,011 including rent). Ha'il is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Ha'il?
Average pay runs 117% 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 Ha'il?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $243 in Ha'il. 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 Ha'il?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $349 in Ha'il. 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,011 in Ha'il versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ha'il but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ha'il the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ha'il?
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 Ha'il safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ha'il 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 Ha'il?
Expats usually find Ha'il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.