😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $706 in Settat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,153 in Settat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $1,600 in Settat.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 234% more expensive than Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Settat is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.01
$3.36MAD 30.98
425.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.0
$33.47MAD 309
103.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.88
$7.20MAD 66.5
93.89%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$1.23MAD 11.38
124.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.35
$0.47MAD 4.38
487.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$0.35MAD 3.25
462.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.85
$1.35MAD 12.47
235.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$1.59MAD 14.69
184.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$0.90MAD 8.31
37.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$0.58MAD 5.37
251.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$1.85MAD 17.03
3.24%
Eggs
$3.39€2.89
$2.10MAD 19.37
61.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.60
$9.63MAD 88.9
90.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.99
$6.01MAD 55.5
56.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.08
$11.24MAD 104
68.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$1.56MAD 14.36
68.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$1.38MAD 12.72
73.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$0.92MAD 8.46
130.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.30
$0.88MAD 8.17
206.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$0.74MAD 6.79
177.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$0.75MAD 6.96
137.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$0.43MAD 3.96
241.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$0.60MAD 5.51
51.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.97
$4.43MAD 40.88
58.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.46
$8.02MAD 74.0
-5.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$2.65MAD 24.45
-45.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$2.98MAD 27.47
-22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
$0.46MAD 4.23
539.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€25.00
$16.29MAD 150
80.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.85
$0.74MAD 6.82
512.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$0.48MAD 4.44
345.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.65
$5.42MAD 49.99
434.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$1.52MAD 14.01
24.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.2K
$36.7KMAD 338.6K
6.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$29.6KMAD 272.9K
9.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$21.63MAD 200
772.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.92
$5.38MAD 49.70
313.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.12
$46.18MAD 426
-20.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.38
$19.07MAD 176
204.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.13
$23.61MAD 218
-9.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.37
$6.69MAD 61.8
64.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€622
$112MAD 1,036
551.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$6,338MAD 58.5K
134.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€76.0
$42.64MAD 394
109.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.81
$50.6MAD 467
-26.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.0
$107MAD 987
-2.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.0
$103MAD 954
12.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,320
$277MAD 2,558
459.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,035
$173MAD 1,598
602.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,382
$509MAD 4,698
449.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$306MAD 2,821
557.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,094
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,273
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,095
$483MAD 4,456
410.05%
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Settat: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $277 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 410% 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 in Barcelona vs $33 in Settat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 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 234% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $706 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 410% 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: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $277 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 $731 in Barcelona versus $112 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 62% 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 $706 in Settat versus $2,356 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 234% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.