😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $569 in Jijel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $911 in Jijel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,254 in Jijel.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 311% more expensive than Jijel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Jijel is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$2.55DZD 338
569.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$23.61DZD 3,129
193.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$4.81DZD 638
186.49%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$0.99DZD 131
178.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.57DZD 75.5
389.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.21DZD 27.73
847.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.94DZD 257
124.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.33DZD 309
103.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.95DZD 126
35.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.13DZD 17.57
1476.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.37DZD 182
45.26%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.86DZD 247
82.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.75DZD 1,160
114.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.47DZD 593
109.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$12.52DZD 1,660
52.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.15DZD 418
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.88DZD 381
-18.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.41DZD 187
50.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.74DZD 98.7
285.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.59DZD 77.8
233.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.39DZD 51.1
361.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.40DZD 52.5
262.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.30DZD 40.17
186.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.46DZD 326
175.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.91DZD 916
14.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.35DZD 179
2.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.08DZD 276
13.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.22DZD 28.97
1227.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$17.75DZD 2,352
61.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.66DZD 87.9
575.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.22DZD 29.21
831.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$5.64DZD 748
423.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.36DZD 48.37
405.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$36.5KDZD 4.8M
6.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-2.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$39.87DZD 5,284
374.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$6.83DZD 905
233.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$18.07DZD 2,396
108.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$17.65DZD 2,339
227.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.15DZD 815
75.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$87.0DZD 11.5K
737.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$1,413DZD 187.2K
945.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$36.21DZD 4,800
144.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$33.66DZD 4,461
9.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$63.7DZD 8,446
60.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$68.1DZD 9,031
70.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$200DZD 26.5K
684.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$126DZD 16.6K
869.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$271DZD 35.9K
933.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$186DZD 24.7K
960.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$786DZD 104.1K
886.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$420DZD 55.7K
1131.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$260DZD 34.5K
800.93%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Jijel: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $200 in Jijel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 801% 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 $24.00 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 Jijel?
Barcelona and Jijel differ by about 311% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $569 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?
Barcelona pays 801% more on average, 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 Jijel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $200 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $87.0 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 73% 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 $569 in Jijel versus $2,337 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 311% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.