😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $666 in Settat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $1,026 in Settat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $1,386 in Settat.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 275% more expensive than in Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Settat is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.83
$3.20MAD 29.90
474.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$32.56MAD 305
112.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.16
$6.56MAD 61.4
115.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$1.15MAD 10.75
172.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$0.47MAD 4.40
542.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.38MAD 3.52
415.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$1.27MAD 11.88
214.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$1.65MAD 15.44
188.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$0.89MAD 8.36
40.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$0.86MAD 8.06
151.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$1.62MAD 15.18
4.32%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$2.00MAD 18.68
146.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.39
$8.03MAD 75.1
122.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.27
$5.48MAD 51.3
75.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.64
$12.02MAD 112
60.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$1.68MAD 15.76
92.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.49MAD 13.92
46.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$0.99MAD 9.26
169.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$0.77MAD 7.24
259.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$0.75MAD 7.00
194.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$0.81MAD 7.53
170.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$0.26MAD 2.44
484.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.52MAD 4.88
76.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$4.32MAD 40.43
64.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.00
$8.21MAD 76.8
-0.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.31MAD 21.63
-35.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$3.45MAD 32.30
-19.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$0.42MAD 3.91
650.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.23
$10.60MAD 99.2
154.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$0.79MAD 7.35
311.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$0.68MAD 6.34
120.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.03
$7.37MAD 69.0
373.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.57MAD 14.73
11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$35.2KMAD 328.9K
4.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$30.5KMAD 285.4K
1.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$21.41MAD 200
776.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.29
$5.45MAD 51.0
183.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.52
$37.95MAD 355
-0.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.21
$19.52MAD 183
192.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.45
$10.78MAD 101
55.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.96
$6.66MAD 62.3
73.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€863
$106MAD 991
846.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$8,646MAD 80.9K
96.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.8
$32.76MAD 306
172.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.17
$47.54MAD 445
-14.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$84.4MAD 790
30.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$87.5MAD 818
40.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,440
$219MAD 2,046
665.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,146
$162MAD 1,514
722.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,234
$870MAD 8,138
198.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,678
$235MAD 2,197
730.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,517
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,621
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,067
$220MAD 2,054
994.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.5
-9.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Settat: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $219 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 994% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Settat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $191 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 in Settat?
Barcelona and Settat differ by about 275% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $666 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?
Average pay runs 994% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Settat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $219 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 $1,003 in Barcelona versus $106 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 74% 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 $666 in Settat versus $2,495 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 275% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.