😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $510 in Laghouat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $843 in Laghouat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,175 in Laghouat.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 387% more expensive than in Laghouat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Laghouat is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$3.77DZD 500
388.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$20.94DZD 2,778
231.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$4.76DZD 632
195.17%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$1.06DZD 141
193.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$0.68DZD 89.8
335.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.17DZD 22.14
1047.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$1.50DZD 199
166.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$2.16DZD 287
113.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.03DZD 136
28.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$0.15DZD 20.43
1306.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.56DZD 339
-28.52%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$1.82DZD 241
183.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$4.44DZD 589
295.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$5.78DZD 766
64.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$15.72DZD 2,085
26.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$3.80DZD 504
-16.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$3.61DZD 479
-38.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$2.12DZD 281
23.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.05DZD 139
171.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$0.58DZD 77.1
274.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$0.58DZD 76.9
263.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$0.61DZD 80.6
165.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.30DZD 39.35
193.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$2.37DZD 314
202.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$6.99DZD 927
19.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.27DZD 169
18.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.07DZD 274
32.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$0.11DZD 14.86
2754.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$7.08DZD 938
270.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$0.79DZD 105
307.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.34DZD 45.66
344.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$6.26DZD 830
463.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$0.38DZD 49.99
360.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$30.4KDZD 4.0M
20.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$44.8KDZD 5.9M
-29.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$38.41DZD 5,094
387.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$6.65DZD 882
127.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$16.48DZD 2,185
128.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$14.57DZD 1,932
280.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$4.72DZD 626
148.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$60.3DZD 7,989
1577.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$3,760DZD 498.6K
354.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$28.04DZD 3,719
225.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$34.35DZD 4,555
19.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$58.0DZD 7,689
90.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$72.6DZD 9,629
73.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$101DZD 13.3K
1593.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$57.1DZD 7,573
2175.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$163DZD 21.7K
1483.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$111DZD 14.8K
1630.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$440DZD 58.4K
1655.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$303DZD 40.2K
1674.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$356DZD 47.2K
566.55%
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 7, 2026
Last update for Laghouat: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $101 in Laghouat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 567% 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 $21.00 in Laghouat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $206 per month, with Laghouat 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 Laghouat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Laghouat?
Barcelona and Laghouat differ by about 387% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $510 including rent). Laghouat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Laghouat?
Average pay runs 567% 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 Laghouat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $101 in Laghouat. 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 Laghouat?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $60.3 in Laghouat. 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 62% 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 $510 in Laghouat versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Laghouat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Laghouat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Laghouat?
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 Laghouat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Laghouat 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 Laghouat?
Expats usually find Laghouat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 387% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.