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: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $357 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $528 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $699 in Maroua.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 594% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Maroua is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 €16.33

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 €12.00

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

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

$2.83 €2.47

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 €3.47

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.95

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.11

$1.80 FCFA 1,031

-29.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.88

$0.87 FCFA 496

148.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.53

$3.01 FCFA 1,721

-41.53%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.47

$5.85 FCFA 3,344

-12.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.59

$5.38 FCFA 3,076

232.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 €8.41

$5.16 FCFA 2,951

87.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 €17.56

$3.46 FCFA 1,978

482.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 €2.84

$1.81 FCFA 1,035

79.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.94

$0.90 FCFA 516

147.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 €2.27

$0.86 FCFA 491

202.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.40

$1.80 FCFA 1,026

53.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.93

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

-14.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.85

$1.80 FCFA 1,030

17.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 €1.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 €0.83

$0.91 FCFA 521

4.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 €6.40

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 €7.01

$11.27 FCFA 6,440

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.35

$0.84 FCFA 478

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 €2.43

$1.74 FCFA 996

60.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 €22.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 €2.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 €1.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 €29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 €1.51

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

$36.4K €31.7K

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

$30.5K €26.6K

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

$187 €163

$51.9 FCFA 29.6K

260.74%

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

$15.14 €13.20

$8.68 FCFA 4,961

74.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.69 €32.85

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 €48.76

$17.66 FCFA 10.1K

216.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 €14.89

$1.74 FCFA 995

881.61%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.95

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

$997 €869

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €80.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.22 €35.93

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €96.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €109

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 €1,488

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 €1,121

$88.8 FCFA 50.7K

1348.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 €2,236

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 €1,693

$159 FCFA 90.7K

1123.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 €6,666

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,167 €4,504

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,348 €2,047

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maroua: September 12, 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 594% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $357 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,714 in Barcelona and $535 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 73% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,476 per month in Barcelona versus $357 in Maroua – a 594% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $357 in Maroua versus $2,476 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 594% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.