Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $355 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $517 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $679 in Maroua.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 565% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Maroua is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.15 €14.86

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.1 €58.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.64 €11.82

Cappuccino

$2.78 €2.41

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 €2.44

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.43 €3.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.10

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

-29.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 €1.85

$0.84 FCFA 475

153.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 €1.72

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

-33.00%

Eggs

$3.37 €2.92

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

19.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.96 €16.42

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

255.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.53 €8.26

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

84.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.73 €16.22

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

432.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 €2.29

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

48.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 €2.04

$0.85 FCFA 483

176.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 €1.81

$0.85 FCFA 482

145.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 €2.37

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

53.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 €1.70

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

-26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 €1.56

$1.72 FCFA 975

5.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 €0.77

$0.91 FCFA 517

-2.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.87

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 €6.86

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

-30.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.19

$0.87 FCFA 492

57.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 €2.08

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.91 €2.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.66 €24.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 €3.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 €1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.72 €24.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 €1.58

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.3K €34.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K €28.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 €162

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

250.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.29 €19.30

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

149.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.37 €31.50

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 €49.82

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

230.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.74 €17.96

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

1045.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 €9.33

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$725 €628

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 €76.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.81 €31.88

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €89.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,524 €1,319

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 €1,062

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

1265.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,727 €2,362

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 €1,718

$158 FCFA 89.5K

1158.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,469 €6,468

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,243 €4,541

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,393 €2,072

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 2026

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Maroua differ by about 565% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $355 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,539 in Barcelona and $532 in Maroua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,359 per month in Barcelona versus $355 in Maroua – a 565% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Maroua versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Maroua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 565% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.