Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sebha Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sebha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $209 in Sebha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $288 in Sebha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $366 in Sebha.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1019% more expensive than Sebha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Sebha is 84% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
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
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$0.86 LYD 5.43
48.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.77 LYD 4.87
155.84%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.95
$1.30 LYD 8.24
164.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.12
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.09
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.27
$8.82 LYD 55.9
115.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.33
$1.96 LYD 12.41
38.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$1.36 LYD 8.63
74.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$0.87 LYD 5.52
139.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$0.52 LYD 3.30
430.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.52 LYD 3.28
278.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$0.48 LYD 3.06
272.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
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-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$0.31 LYD 2.00
190.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.79
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-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.46
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.30
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-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.79
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.02 LYD 6.44
100.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.11
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$0.03 LYD 0.19
6200.00%
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
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$25.18 LYD 160
648.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €19.01
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.52
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.64
$8.13 LYD 51.6
613.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.97
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-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.46
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €622
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
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-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
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
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-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,307
$141 LYD 895
980.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,043
$99.4 LYD 630
1125.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,392
$204 LYD 1,291
1272.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,735
$119 LYD 756
1599.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,151
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-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sebha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,058
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
0
-

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

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sebha: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $141 in Sebha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Sebha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Sebha?
Barcelona and Sebha differ by about 1019% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $209 including rent). Sebha 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 Sebha?
You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $314 in Sebha 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 Sebha?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $141 in Sebha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 334% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Sebha?
All in, you'll spend $2,341 per month in Barcelona versus $209 in Sebha – a 1019% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $209 in Sebha versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sebha but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sebha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sebha?
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 Sebha safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sebha 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 Sebha?
Expats usually find Sebha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1019% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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