😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,340 in Janub-as-surrah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,242 in Janub-as-surrah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,144 in Janub-as-surrah.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 74% more expensive than Janub-as-surrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Janub-as-surrah0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.91KWD 2.43
115.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$58.3KWD 17.90
18.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.56KWD 2.63
60.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.48KWD 0.76
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.38KWD 1.04
-
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$5.42KWD 1.67
-49.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.59KWD 0.18
372.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.34KWD 0.10
485.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.44KWD 0.44
-10.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.05KWD 0.32
95.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.73KWD 0.53
15.03%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.04KWD 0.63
66.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$4.58KWD 1.41
310.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.60KWD 2.03
41.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$9.83KWD 3.02
94.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.34KWD 0.72
15.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.60KWD 0.49
46.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.53KWD 0.47
38.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.38KWD 0.42
106.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.29KWD 0.40
52.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.10KWD 0.34
63.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.64KWD 0.50
-11.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.46KWD 0.14
86.96%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05KWD 0.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.98KWD 0.92
127.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.88KWD 0.27
231.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$44.03KWD 13.53
-34.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.29KWD 1.01
35.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$3.26KWD 1.00
-37.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$16.02KWD 4.92
84.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.37KWD 0.11
391.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$20.4KKWD 6,253
90.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$19.3KKWD 5,938
71.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$61.8KWD 18.98
206.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$18.14KWD 5.57
25.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$26.02KWD 7.99
44.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$94.9KWD 29.17
-39.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$46.92KWD 14.41
-55.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$11.59KWD 3.56
-6.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$285KWD 87.4
155.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$6,089KWD 1,871
142.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$42.26KWD 12.98
109.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$42.27KWD 12.98
-12.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$87.2KWD 26.79
17.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$81.6KWD 25.07
42.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$805KWD 247
94.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$604KWD 185
101.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$1,555KWD 478
79.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$1,274KWD 391
55.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.14
-52.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Janub-as-surrah: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $805 in Janub-as-surrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $169 per month, with Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Janub-as-surrah?
Barcelona and Janub-as-surrah differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,340 including rent). Janub-as-surrah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Janub-as-surrah?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $2,009 in Janub-as-surrah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Janub-as-surrah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $805 in Janub-as-surrah. 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 Janub-as-surrah?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $285 in Janub-as-surrah. 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 89% 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 $1,340 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Janub-as-surrah but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Janub-as-surrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Janub-as-surrah?
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 Janub-as-surrah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah?
Expats usually find Janub-as-surrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.