😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $549 in Jijel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $872 in Jijel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,194 in Jijel.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 351% more expensive than in Jijel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Jijel is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$2.54DZD 340
637.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$28.86DZD 3,855
140.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$4.48DZD 599
207.37%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$0.92DZD 123
236.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.66DZD 88.3
328.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.28DZD 37.34
571.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.26DZD 302
76.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$2.25DZD 300
101.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.87DZD 116
45.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.15DZD 19.68
1340.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.20DZD 161
46.67%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.39DZD 185
269.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$8.00DZD 1,069
123.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$4.02DZD 537
140.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$12.56DZD 1,678
60.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.14DZD 286
51.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.91DZD 389
-23.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.11DZD 149
134.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.74DZD 98.8
272.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.57DZD 76.2
287.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.38DZD 51.3
457.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.40DZD 53.4
287.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.26DZD 34.71
265.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$2.40DZD 321
205.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$6.91DZD 923
16.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.25DZD 167
23.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.98DZD 265
40.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.24DZD 32.14
1195.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$6.40DZD 855
304.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.60DZD 79.8
445.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.24DZD 32.20
516.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$5.87DZD 784
483.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.36DZD 48.69
380.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$36.6KDZD 4.9M
-0.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$35.3KDZD 4.7M
-13.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$39.88DZD 5,328
369.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$7.13DZD 952
112.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$12.73DZD 1,700
196.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$17.09DZD 2,283
227.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$4.64DZD 619
145.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$87.8DZD 11.7K
1034.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$1,394DZD 186.2K
1086.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$33.58DZD 4,486
175.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$33.21DZD 4,436
24.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$62.5DZD 8,355
77.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$66.4DZD 8,871
88.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$202DZD 27.0K
744.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$127DZD 16.9K
914.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$286DZD 38.1K
798.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$209DZD 27.9K
829.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$783DZD 104.5K
877.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$417DZD 55.7K
1139.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$263DZD 35.1K
793.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
5.3
-40.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Jijel: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $202 in Jijel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 794% 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 $29.00 in Jijel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $170 per month, with Jijel 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 Jijel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Jijel?
Barcelona and Jijel differ by about 351% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $549 including rent). Jijel is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Jijel?
Average pay runs 794% 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 Jijel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $202 in Jijel. 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 Jijel?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $87.8 in Jijel. 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 98% 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 $549 in Jijel versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jijel but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jijel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Jijel?
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 Jijel safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Jijel 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 Jijel?
Expats usually find Jijel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 351% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.