😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $730 in Irbid.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,182 in Irbid.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,633 in Irbid.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 218% more expensive than in Irbid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Irbid is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$4.31JOD 3.05
309.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$41.62JOD 29.47
67.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$7.26JOD 5.14
95.04%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.44JOD 1.02
94.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.48JOD 0.34
485.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.34JOD 0.24
505.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$4.90JOD 3.47
-6.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$7.14JOD 5.05
-34.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.13JOD 0.80
8.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.43JOD 0.30
372.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.54JOD 1.09
28.57%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.82JOD 1.29
91.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$6.50JOD 4.60
182.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$5.48JOD 3.88
79.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$11.42JOD 8.09
67.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.39JOD 0.99
96.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.56JOD 1.11
52.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.04JOD 0.73
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.61JOD 0.43
350.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.87JOD 0.61
125.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.68JOD 0.48
163.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.64JOD 0.46
131.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.63JOD 0.44
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.50JOD 2.48
103.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.03JOD 4.98
12.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$3.83JOD 2.71
-63.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$5.31JOD 3.76
-54.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.69JOD 0.49
336.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.51JOD 0.36
754.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.37JOD 0.97
55.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$6.94JOD 4.92
326.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.40JOD 0.99
30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$24.7KJOD 17.5K
53.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$31.0KJOD 21.9K
4.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$97.5JOD 69.0
93.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$15.54JOD 11.01
43.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$30.78JOD 21.79
20.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$34.03JOD 24.09
70.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$18.50JOD 13.10
11.68%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$10.09JOD 7.14
7.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$93.8JOD 66.4
652.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$4,039JOD 2,859
268.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$43.77JOD 30.99
104.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$21.21JOD 15.02
72.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$68.1JOD 48.23
52.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$49.71JOD 35.19
140.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$211JOD 149
648.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$141JOD 99.8
778.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$374JOD 265
625.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$287JOD 203
610.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$519JOD 368
1348.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$499JOD 353
950.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Irbid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$565JOD 400
318.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.27
-53.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Irbid: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $211 in Irbid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 318% 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 $42.00 in Irbid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $192 per month, with Irbid 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 Irbid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Irbid?
Barcelona and Irbid differ by about 218% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $730 including rent). Irbid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Irbid?
Average pay runs 318% 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 Irbid?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $211 in Irbid. 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 Irbid?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $93.8 in Irbid. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Irbid – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $730 in Irbid versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irbid but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Irbid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Irbid?
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 Irbid safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Irbid 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 Irbid?
Expats usually find Irbid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 218% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.