😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,205 in Khafji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,838 in Khafji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,470 in Khafji.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 94% more expensive than Khafji, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Khafji is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.80
$3.24SAR 12.17
427.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€60.0
$53.2SAR 200
30.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.95
$4.98SAR 18.71
176.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.92SAR 3.45
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57SAR 5.91
-
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.39
$2.98SAR 11.19
-7.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.42
$0.85SAR 3.19
228.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.73
$0.37SAR 1.39
437.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.78
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.11
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.12
$1.67SAR 6.25
-22.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.78
$1.41SAR 5.28
45.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$2.10SAR 7.90
-5.24%
Eggs
$3.39€2.94
$2.25SAR 8.44
50.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.31
$6.06SAR 22.74
210.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.12
$7.13SAR 26.78
31.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.57
$9.97SAR 37.44
91.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.34
$2.16SAR 8.12
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.03
$1.53SAR 5.75
52.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$1.43SAR 5.39
48.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$1.59SAR 5.97
79.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.71
$1.23SAR 4.60
60.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.56
$1.39SAR 5.24
29.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.26
$1.30SAR 4.90
11.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.55SAR 2.06
56.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.08SAR 15.34
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.64SAR 6.15
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.93SAR 7.23
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$8.14SAR 30.57
-16.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.85
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.06
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.53
$1.05SAR 3.94
178.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.86
$39.17SAR 147
-26.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.86
$3.36SAR 12.62
32.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.78
$1.82SAR 6.84
12.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.61
$13.45SAR 50.5
119.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.57
$0.63SAR 2.38
188.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.7K
$23.0KSAR 86.4K
68.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.7K
$21.2KSAR 79.5K
56.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€164
$115SAR 433
64.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.76
$38.64SAR 145
-40.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.58
$62.6SAR 235
-39.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€50.1
$86.2SAR 323
-32.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.98
$36.34SAR 136
-42.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.38
$15.40SAR 57.8
-29.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€631
$131SAR 492
456.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.8K
$4,039SAR 15.2K
265.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.8
$67.5SAR 253
31.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.94
$68.2SAR 256
-45.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.4
$93.4SAR 351
9.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$86.4SAR 324
34.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,360
$447SAR 1,679
250.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,056
$383SAR 1,439
217.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,423
$847SAR 3,180
230.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,712
$619SAR 2,323
219.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,720
$2,256SAR 8,471
243.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,486
$1,363SAR 5,116
279.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,031
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.33
-21.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Khafji: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $447 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $53.0 in Khafji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $184 per month, with Khafji 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 Khafji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Khafji?
Barcelona and Khafji differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,205 including rent). Khafji 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 Khafji?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $1,808 in Khafji 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 Khafji?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $447 in Khafji. 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 Khafji?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $131 in Khafji. 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 74% 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 $1,205 in Khafji versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khafji but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Khafji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Khafji?
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 Khafji safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Khafji 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 Khafji?
Expats usually find Khafji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.