๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Barcelona versus $1,186 in Khafji.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Barcelona versus $1,822 in Khafji.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Barcelona versus $2,457 in Khafji.
๐Living in Barcelona is roughly 97% more expensive than Khafji, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Khafji is 11% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45โฌ14.88
$3.12SARย 11.71
459.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8โฌ59.6
$53.6SARย 201
30.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91โฌ11.86
$4.95SARย 18.57
181.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.95SARย 3.58
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.58SARย 5.93
-
Cappuccino
$2.74โฌ2.34
$2.86SARย 10.71
-4.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70โฌ2.30
$0.84SARย 3.14
221.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$0.38SARย 1.42
434.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51โฌ3.85
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61โฌ3.93
-
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28โฌ1.09
$1.71SARย 6.41
-25.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10โฌ1.79
$1.39SARย 5.22
51.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99โฌ1.70
$2.12SARย 7.95
-6.13%
Eggs
$3.45โฌ2.95
$2.21SARย 8.28
56.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.61โฌ15.87
$6.09SARย 22.83
205.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41โฌ8.03
$7.42SARย 27.81
26.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.70โฌ15.95
$9.86SARย 36.99
89.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61โฌ2.22
$2.20SARย 8.26
18.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.55SARย 5.80
54.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19โฌ1.86
$1.43SARย 5.38
53.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81โฌ2.40
$1.65SARย 6.20
70.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$1.28SARย 4.81
58.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87โฌ1.60
$1.34SARย 5.04
39.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45โฌ1.24
$1.31SARย 4.93
10.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92โฌ0.79
$0.55SARย 2.06
67.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.21SARย 15.78
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63SARย 6.12
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02SARย 7.57
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$7.81SARย 29.30
-12.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71โฌ6.58
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88โฌ2.46
$1.06SARย 3.97
171.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.04โฌ24.77
$40.63SARย 152
-28.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43โฌ3.78
$3.27SARย 12.28
35.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14โฌ1.82
$1.85SARย 6.94
15.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.96โฌ24.71
$13.39SARย 50.2
116.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90โฌ1.62
$0.60SARย 2.25
216.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9Kโฌ32.3K
$22.9KSARย 85.9K
65.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
$21.1KSARย 79.0K
58.14%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186โฌ158
$117SARย 440
58.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.17โฌ18.91
$38.81SARย 146
-42.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52โฌ31.15
$63.5SARย 238
-42.46%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.4โฌ49.81
$89.2SARย 334
-34.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75โฌ17.70
$35.37SARย 133
-41.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10โฌ9.47
$15.45SARย 57.9
-28.16%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$705โฌ601
$134SARย 501
427.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kโฌ13.0K
$3,949SARย 14.8K
285.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4โฌ73.7
$68.5SARย 257
26.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88โฌ31.46
$67.3SARย 253
-45.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104โฌ88.8
$90.3SARย 339
15.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115โฌ98.4
$85.9SARย 322
34.30%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,538โฌ1,312
$441SARย 1,652
249.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,242โฌ1,060
$374SARย 1,403
232.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,728โฌ2,327
$840SARย 3,151
224.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,011โฌ1,716
$623SARย 2,334
223.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,155โฌ6,104
$2,657SARย 9,965
169.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,843โฌ4,131
$1,376SARย 5,159
252.00%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,474โฌ2,111
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.33
-21.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Last update for Khafji: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Barcelona and $441 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $70 in Barcelona vs $54 in Khafji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $186 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 97% in total monthly costs ($2,336 vs $1,186 including rent). Khafji is meaningfully more affordable โ 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 $3,504 in Barcelona and $1,779 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: $1,538 in Barcelona versus $441 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 $705 in Barcelona versus $134 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 71% 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 $1,186 in Khafji versus $2,336 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 97% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.