😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $572 in Jijel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $914 in Jijel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,256 in Jijel.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 312% more expensive than in Jijel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Jijel is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.96
$2.54DZD 337
575.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€59.3
$23.43DZD 3,100
190.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.89
$4.65DZD 616
193.33%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.42
$0.96DZD 127
189.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$0.61DZD 81.2
362.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.23DZD 30.46
752.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.86
$1.89DZD 251
134.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.01
$2.43DZD 321
89.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.87DZD 115
45.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.86
$0.13DZD 17.59
1538.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.73
$1.43DZD 189
39.16%
Eggs
$3.37€2.93
$1.82DZD 240
85.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.53
$8.81DZD 1,166
115.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.31
$4.58DZD 606
108.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.33
$12.57DZD 1,664
49.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$3.22DZD 426
-17.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.90DZD 384
-18.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.82
$1.48DZD 196
41.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$0.74DZD 98.6
268.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.71
$0.59DZD 77.7
232.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$0.39DZD 51.1
364.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$0.40DZD 52.3
277.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$0.28DZD 36.89
217.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.91
$2.38DZD 315
184.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.90
$6.89DZD 912
14.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.29DZD 171
6.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.09
$2.14DZD 283
12.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.54
$0.22DZD 28.96
1222.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.98
$17.48DZD 2,313
63.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.99
$0.67DZD 88.1
583.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.78
$0.22DZD 29.18
827.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€25.03
$5.67DZD 750
406.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$0.36DZD 47.69
405.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.3K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
8.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.3K
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
-2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$40.54DZD 5,366
360.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.43
$6.86DZD 908
224.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.71
$17.86DZD 2,364
103.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€50.2
$17.64DZD 2,335
226.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€18.08
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.39
$6.06DZD 802
77.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€632
$87.6DZD 11.6K
727.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.2K
$1,394DZD 184.5K
986.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.6
$37.40DZD 4,950
134.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€32.09
$33.21DZD 4,395
10.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.2
$63.2DZD 8,368
63.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$65.9DZD 8,716
80.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,328
$199DZD 26.4K
664.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,070
$127DZD 16.8K
866.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,378
$273DZD 36.2K
897.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,730
$181DZD 23.9K
998.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,511
$791DZD 104.7K
844.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,571
$414DZD 54.8K
1166.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,086
$252DZD 33.4K
848.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.42
-37.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Jijel: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $199 in Jijel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 848% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $23.00 in Jijel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $185 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 312% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $572 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 848% 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: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $199 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $87.6 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 72% 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 $572 in Jijel versus $2,359 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 312% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.