😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $573 in Laghouat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $917 in Laghouat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,262 in Laghouat.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 309% more expensive than Laghouat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Laghouat is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.04
$2.75DZD 365
540.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.7
$20.90DZD 2,772
228.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.74
$4.71DZD 625
191.93%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.07DZD 142
157.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.69DZD 91.5
302.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.17DZD 21.99
1105.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.93
$1.90DZD 252
142.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.92
$2.33DZD 309
97.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.09
$1.00DZD 132
28.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.80
$0.33DZD 43.50
539.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.48DZD 329
-20.56%
Eggs
$3.44€2.94
$1.91DZD 253
80.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.08
$3.78DZD 501
398.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.07
$6.92DZD 918
36.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.24
$16.94DZD 2,247
12.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.32
$4.36DZD 579
-37.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$3.80DZD 504
-37.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$1.73DZD 229
20.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.19DZD 158
131.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$0.64DZD 85.4
207.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.66DZD 87.6
171.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.68DZD 89.8
122.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.29DZD 39.11
210.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.77
$2.37DZD 315
185.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.44
$7.07DZD 937
6.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.34DZD 178
7.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.09DZD 277
15.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.10DZD 13.59
2930.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.25
$17.75DZD 2,354
59.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.78
$0.80DZD 106
453.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.75
$0.28DZD 36.82
632.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.05
$6.16DZD 818
376.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$0.37DZD 49.41
410.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.1K
$29.8KDZD 3.9M
30.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$56.1KDZD 7.4M
-42.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$40.76DZD 5,406
362.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€18.96
$9.16DZD 1,215
142.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.44
$19.66DZD 2,608
87.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.52
$17.77DZD 2,356
226.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.44
$5.56DZD 737
98.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€620
$95.3DZD 12.6K
662.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,636DZD 482.2K
318.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.4
$28.40DZD 3,767
210.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.58
$46.66DZD 6,188
-20.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.6
$56.3DZD 7,463
82.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$71.2DZD 9,444
67.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,304
$126DZD 16.8K
1106.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,040
$69.4DZD 9,208
1654.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,386
$178DZD 23.7K
1465.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,731
$117DZD 15.5K
1640.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,058
$447DZD 59.3K
1486.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,141
$299DZD 39.7K
1519.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Laghouat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,053
$368DZD 48.7K
554.15%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Laghouat: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $126 in Laghouat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 554% 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 $320 vs $220 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 309% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $573 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 554% 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: $1,526 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $95.3 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 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 $573 in Laghouat versus $2,341 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 309% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.