😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $572 in Laghouat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $916 in Laghouat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,260 in Laghouat.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 308% more expensive than Laghouat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Laghouat is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$2.74DZD 363
523.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$21.68DZD 2,873
219.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$4.67DZD 619
195.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.06DZD 141
160.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.65DZD 85.6
329.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.18DZD 23.48
1005.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.92DZD 254
127.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.41DZD 320
96.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.99DZD 131
30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.33DZD 43.53
521.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.46DZD 326
-19.11%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.89DZD 251
79.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$3.80DZD 504
395.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.84DZD 907
36.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$16.78DZD 2,225
13.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$4.25DZD 564
-36.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$3.86DZD 511
-39.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.69DZD 224
25.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.18DZD 156
141.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.69DZD 91.5
185.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.68DZD 90.0
164.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.71DZD 93.6
104.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.32DZD 42.61
168.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.38DZD 315
184.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.88DZD 911
14.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.28DZD 170
8.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.17DZD 287
9.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.12DZD 15.63
2333.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$17.38DZD 2,304
65.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.76DZD 100
486.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.30DZD 40.35
583.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$6.27DZD 831
371.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.35DZD 45.91
420.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$29.5KDZD 3.9M
31.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$56.9KDZD 7.5M
-41.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$40.65DZD 5,388
365.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$9.24DZD 1,225
146.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$19.36DZD 2,566
94.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$17.88DZD 2,370
222.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.44DZD 721
98.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$94.5DZD 12.5K
671.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,544DZD 469.7K
316.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$28.93DZD 3,835
206.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$47.21DZD 6,258
-21.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$57.7DZD 7,644
76.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$69.9DZD 9,259
66.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$126DZD 16.7K
1144.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$71.3DZD 9,452
1608.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$174DZD 23.0K
1510.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$116DZD 15.4K
1599.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$448DZD 59.4K
1630.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$297DZD 39.4K
1640.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$354DZD 46.9K
562.70%
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 Laghouat: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $126 in Laghouat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 563% 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 $22.00 in Laghouat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $218 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 Laghouat?
Barcelona and Laghouat differ by about 308% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $572 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?
Barcelona pays 563% 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 Laghouat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $126 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $94.5 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 46% 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 Laghouat versus $2,337 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 308% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.