😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $619 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $969 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,319 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 288% more expensive than in Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Sidi Bel Abbes is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.42
$3.26DZD 434
442.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$21.33DZD 2,842
228.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.91
$3.86DZD 514
253.89%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.39
$0.38DZD 50.6
621.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$0.65DZD 86.9
329.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.29DZD 38.88
575.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.81
$1.93DZD 257
125.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.99
$2.33DZD 310
96.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$0.98DZD 131
31.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.79
$0.08DZD 11.01
2462.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.57DZD 209
26.11%
Eggs
$3.39€2.96
$1.85DZD 247
83.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.26
$9.05DZD 1,206
105.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.34
$5.42DZD 722
76.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.43
$16.59DZD 2,211
13.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$3.21DZD 428
-14.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$2.82DZD 375
-12.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.72DZD 229
22.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$0.79DZD 105
256.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$0.59DZD 78.1
242.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$0.46DZD 61.5
302.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$0.62DZD 82.4
143.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.37DZD 49.45
143.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.16
$2.67DZD 356
164.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.96
$9.69DZD 1,292
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$1.33DZD 178
7.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.10DZD 280
9.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.51
$0.20DZD 26.66
1340.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.77
$17.47DZD 2,327
62.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.82
$0.73DZD 97.8
500.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$0.34DZD 44.89
529.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.44
$5.46DZD 727
433.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.63
$0.36DZD 48.27
416.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.0K
$31.8KDZD 4.2M
22.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$33.6KDZD 4.5M
-2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$40.11DZD 5,345
371.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.82
$9.38DZD 1,250
142.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.85
$17.08DZD 2,276
113.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€50.3
$18.07DZD 2,408
218.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$5.29DZD 705
104.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€634
$95.9DZD 12.8K
657.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.2K
$3,632DZD 484.0K
315.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.5
$37.42DZD 4,987
134.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€32.19
$44.57DZD 5,940
-17.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.3
$74.1DZD 9,868
39.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$78.3DZD 10.4K
48.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,373
$195DZD 26.0K
707.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,064
$117DZD 15.6K
942.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,366
$275DZD 36.7K
885.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,716
$183DZD 24.5K
971.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,815
$1,185DZD 157.9K
559.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,595
$1,154DZD 153.8K
356.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,072
$350DZD 46.6K
578.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.42
-37.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $195 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 579% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $212 per month, with Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sidi Bel Abbes?
Barcelona and Sidi Bel Abbes differ by about 288% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $619 including rent). Sidi Bel Abbes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Sidi Bel Abbes?
Average pay runs 579% 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $195 in Sidi Bel Abbes. 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $95.9 in Sidi Bel Abbes. 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 51% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $619 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sidi Bel Abbes but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sidi Bel Abbes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sidi Bel Abbes?
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 Sidi Bel Abbes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Expats usually find Sidi Bel Abbes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 288% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.