😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $701 in Settat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,139 in Settat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,577 in Settat.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 237% more expensive than Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Settat is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.25
$3.25MAD 30.05
440.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€59.4
$33.41MAD 309
104.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.19
$7.23MAD 66.8
94.47%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.19MAD 10.99
133.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.43
$0.44MAD 4.10
536.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.79
$0.33MAD 3.02
524.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.87
$1.29MAD 11.94
245.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.00
$1.65MAD 15.26
179.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$0.90MAD 8.28
37.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.76
$0.59MAD 5.42
244.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.67
$1.78MAD 16.43
7.87%
Eggs
$3.31€2.87
$2.00MAD 18.47
65.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.99
$9.68MAD 89.4
90.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.23
$6.13MAD 56.7
54.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.62
$11.09MAD 102
72.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.29
$1.52MAD 14.06
73.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.12
$1.39MAD 12.83
76.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$0.90MAD 8.30
135.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$0.88MAD 8.12
223.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$0.80MAD 7.35
155.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$0.74MAD 6.84
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.28
$0.42MAD 3.92
250.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.59MAD 5.48
42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.20
$4.36MAD 40.25
63.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.84
$8.06MAD 74.5
-2.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$2.71MAD 25.02
-49.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.00
$2.94MAD 27.19
-21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.59
$0.43MAD 3.94
593.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.38
$16.21MAD 150
80.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.99
$0.80MAD 7.42
475.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.79
$0.51MAD 4.73
305.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.31
$5.45MAD 50.4
435.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.60
$1.53MAD 14.16
20.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.8K
$36.9KMAD 340.4K
5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.4K
$29.7KMAD 274.0K
10.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€163
$21.57MAD 199
770.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.90
$5.42MAD 50.1
323.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.85
$45.19MAD 417
-18.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.77
$19.06MAD 176
201.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.95
$23.03MAD 213
-10.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.71
$6.66MAD 61.5
68.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€625
$115MAD 1,060
528.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.1K
$6,295MAD 58.2K
138.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.8
$42.80MAD 395
101.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€32.16
$50.4MAD 465
-26.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.5
$107MAD 992
-4.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$103MAD 951
12.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,330
$275MAD 2,542
457.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,059
$172MAD 1,590
609.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,338
$513MAD 4,738
425.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,746
$301MAD 2,784
567.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,264
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,501
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,047
$220MAD 2,036
970.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.75
-28.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Settat: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $275 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 970% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Settat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $195 per month, with Settat 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 Settat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Settat?
Barcelona and Settat differ by about 237% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $701 including rent). Settat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Settat?
Barcelona pays 970% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Settat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $275 in Settat. 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 Settat?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $115 in Settat. 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 63% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $701 in Settat versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Settat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Settat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Settat?
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 Settat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Settat 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 Settat?
Expats usually find Settat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 237% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.