😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $1,142 in Rabigh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,703 in Rabigh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $2,264 in Rabigh.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 110% more expensive than in Rabigh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Rabigh is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.42
$3.93SAR 14.75
349.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$21.44SAR 80.5
226.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.91
$7.26SAR 27.25
88.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.30SAR 4.88
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.78SAR 2.93
-
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.39
$2.42SAR 9.07
13.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$0.68SAR 2.56
310.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.14SAR 0.54
1300.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.81
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.99
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.29SAR 4.85
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.79
$0.26SAR 0.97
688.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$2.33SAR 8.76
-15.02%
Eggs
$3.39€2.96
$2.19SAR 8.20
54.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.26
$5.30SAR 19.88
251.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.34
$4.77SAR 17.89
100.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.43
$12.50SAR 46.91
50.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$2.12SAR 7.97
29.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$1.58SAR 5.95
56.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.61SAR 6.04
30.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$1.30SAR 4.87
116.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.26SAR 4.74
60.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.21SAR 4.53
52.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$1.07SAR 4.01
41.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.56SAR 2.09
60.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.28SAR 16.07
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.93SAR 7.26
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.45SAR 9.19
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.16
$2.68SAR 10.04
163.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.96
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.51
$1.10SAR 4.13
161.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.77
$39.24SAR 147
-27.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.82
$3.18SAR 11.95
37.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$1.84SAR 6.90
16.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.44
$15.44SAR 58.0
88.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.63
$0.64SAR 2.39
190.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.0K
$26.5KSAR 99.4K
47.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$21.4KSAR 80.2K
53.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$107SAR 401
76.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.82
$32.59SAR 122
-30.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.85
$69.0SAR 259
-47.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€50.3
$87.9SAR 330
-34.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.64
$35.15SAR 132
-39.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$13.44SAR 50.5
-19.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€634
$402SAR 1,509
80.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.2K
$6,394SAR 24.0K
136.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.5
$62.7SAR 235
39.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€32.19
$58.0SAR 218
-36.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.3
$93.1SAR 349
11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$84.3SAR 316
38.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,373
$279SAR 1,048
463.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,064
$382SAR 1,432
219.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,366
$527SAR 1,978
414.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,716
$631SAR 2,370
211.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,815
$2,137SAR 8,020
265.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,595
$1,271SAR 4,769
314.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Rabigh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.5
-24.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Rabigh: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $279 in Rabigh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Rabigh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $161 per month, with Rabigh 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 Rabigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Rabigh?
Barcelona and Rabigh differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $1,142 including rent). Rabigh is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Rabigh?
You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $1,714 in Rabigh 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Rabigh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $279 in Rabigh. 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 Rabigh?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $402 in Rabigh. 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 99% 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 $1,142 in Rabigh versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Rabigh?
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 Rabigh safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Rabigh 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 Rabigh?
Expats usually find Rabigh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.