😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $492 in M'Sila.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $799 in M'Sila.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,106 in M'Sila.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 405% more expensive than in M'Sila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, M'Sila is 64% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$1.90DZD 251
869.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$19.33DZD 2,563
258.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$3.94DZD 523
256.60%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$0.40DZD 53.6
677.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$0.54DZD 71.5
448.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.22DZD 29.24
786.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$2.30DZD 305
73.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$2.37DZD 315
94.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$0.82DZD 108
60.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$0.13DZD 17.01
1523.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.20DZD 159
52.50%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$1.34DZD 177
285.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$3.06DZD 406
473.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$4.15DZD 550
128.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$9.31DZD 1,235
114.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$2.10DZD 279
50.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$2.80DZD 372
-21.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$1.17DZD 155
123.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.58DZD 77.2
391.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$0.52DZD 69.2
317.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$0.29DZD 38.23
627.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$0.13DZD 17.17
1146.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.26DZD 34.31
238.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$2.80DZD 371
156.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$6.77DZD 898
23.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.31DZD 174
14.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.00DZD 265
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$0.19DZD 24.55
1552.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$6.37DZD 844
312.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$0.57DZD 75.0
464.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.46DZD 60.9
228.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$5.73DZD 760
515.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$0.33DZD 43.19
430.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$35.9KDZD 4.8M
2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$35.1KDZD 4.7M
-9.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$24.03DZD 3,187
678.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$7.98DZD 1,058
89.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$12.84DZD 1,703
192.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$20.73DZD 2,749
167.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$4.64DZD 615
152.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$119DZD 15.8K
747.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$6,564DZD 870.5K
160.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$33.62DZD 4,458
171.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$35.79DZD 4,746
14.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$71.6DZD 9,497
54.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$84.4DZD 11.2K
49.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$157DZD 20.8K
984.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$109DZD 14.5K
1089.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$282DZD 37.4K
818.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$214DZD 28.4K
802.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$1,325DZD 175.8K
483.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$654DZD 86.7K
723.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
M'Sila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$249DZD 33.0K
852.60%
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 M'Sila: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $157 in M'Sila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 853% 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 $333 vs $142 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 in M'Sila?
Barcelona and M'Sila differ by about 405% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $492 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?
Average pay runs 853% 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 M'Sila?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $157 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 $1,011 in Barcelona versus $119 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 134% 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 $492 in M'Sila versus $2,482 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 405% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.