😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $545 in M'Sila.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $842 in M'Sila.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,139 in M'Sila.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 329% more expensive than M'Sila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, M'Sila is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$1.95DZD 259
775.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$19.26DZD 2,552
259.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.87DZD 513
256.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$0.41DZD 54.1
573.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.52DZD 68.4
436.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.21DZD 27.56
847.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.91DZD 253
128.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.32DZD 308
104.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.83DZD 110
55.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.13DZD 17.48
1476.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.48DZD 196
34.46%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.48DZD 196
129.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$3.17DZD 420
493.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$5.49DZD 728
70.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$9.25DZD 1,225
106.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.17DZD 421
-14.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.74DZD 364
-14.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.72DZD 228
23.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.54DZD 71.5
427.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.49DZD 64.8
302.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.31DZD 41.15
480.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.14DZD 18.91
935.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.30DZD 40.17
186.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.67DZD 354
153.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.78DZD 899
16.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.35DZD 178
2.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.07DZD 275
14.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.23DZD 30.34
1169.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$17.59DZD 2,331
63.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.71DZD 93.5
528.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.34DZD 44.84
502.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$5.46DZD 723
441.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.36DZD 47.18
405.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$36.0KDZD 4.8M
8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
-1.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$23.73DZD 3,145
697.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$7.84DZD 1,039
190.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$17.96DZD 2,381
109.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$23.01DZD 3,049
150.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.07DZD 804
78.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$92.8DZD 12.3K
684.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,606DZD 477.9K
309.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$36.32DZD 4,814
144.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$45.49DZD 6,029
-18.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$75.9DZD 10.1K
34.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$77.9DZD 10.3K
49.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$197DZD 26.1K
697.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$117DZD 15.5K
944.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$276DZD 36.6K
913.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$181DZD 24.0K
991.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,131DZD 149.9K
585.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$649DZD 86.0K
697.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$251DZD 33.3K
833.44%
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 M'Sila: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $197 in M'Sila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 833% 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 $19.00 in M'Sila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $159 per month, with M'Sila 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 M'Sila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and M'Sila?
Barcelona and M'Sila differ by about 329% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $545 including rent). M'Sila is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or M'Sila?
Barcelona pays 833% 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 M'Sila?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $197 in M'Sila. 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 M'Sila?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $92.8 in M'Sila. 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 101% 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 $545 in M'Sila versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in M'Sila but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes M'Sila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and M'Sila?
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 M'Sila safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and M'Sila 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 M'Sila?
Expats usually find M'Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 329% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.