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: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $346 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $518 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $689 in Maroua.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 577% more expensive than Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Maroua is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.61 €15.08

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 €58.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.75 €11.77

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.36

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

$2.78 €2.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 €1.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.61 €3.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 €3.93

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.10

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

-28.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 €1.81

$0.86 FCFA 484

145.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

$2.97 FCFA 1,668

-33.67%

Eggs

$3.44 €2.95

$2.75 FCFA 1,541

25.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.83 €16.12

$5.45 FCFA 3,054

245.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 €8.09

$5.20 FCFA 2,916

81.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 €16.27

$3.45 FCFA 1,933

451.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 €2.33

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

51.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 €2.03

$0.91 FCFA 512

160.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 €1.78

$0.89 FCFA 500

133.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.36

$1.72 FCFA 967

60.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

$2.68 FCFA 1,503

-26.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 €1.53

$1.79 FCFA 1,005

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.77

$0.90 FCFA 506

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 €5.79

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 €6.46

$11.73 FCFA 6,580

-35.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.23

$0.85 FCFA 477

69.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 €2.06

$1.78 FCFA 997

35.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 €2.59

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 €3.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 €1.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.33 €25.11

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.62

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

$38.7K €33.2K

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

$32.4K €27.7K

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

$189 €161

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

262.46%

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

$22.21 €19.01

$9.05 FCFA 5,073

145.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.82 €31.52

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €49.64

$17.57 FCFA 9,855

230.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 €17.97

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

1079.21%

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 €9.46

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

$726 €622

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.3 €75.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.98 €31.66

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €87.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 €1,307

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 €1,043

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

1299.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,794 €2,392

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 €1,735

$158 FCFA 88.5K

1184.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,094 €6,073

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,849 €4,151

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,404 €2,058

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Maroua: April 27, 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 577% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $346 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $519 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 75% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,341 per month in Barcelona versus $346 in Maroua – a 577% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $346 in Maroua versus $2,341 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 577% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.