😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $614 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $952 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,289 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 284% more expensive than in Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Sidi Bel Abbes is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$3.28DZD 434
422.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$21.15DZD 2,796
221.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.93DZD 519
247.07%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$0.37DZD 49.31
651.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.60DZD 79.3
370.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.27DZD 35.53
625.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.98DZD 261
123.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.34DZD 310
97.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.02DZD 135
24.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.07DZD 9.45
2942.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.57DZD 207
26.75%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.81DZD 239
86.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$9.12DZD 1,205
107.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$5.18DZD 685
83.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$16.64DZD 2,200
12.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.10DZD 409
-14.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.87DZD 380
-18.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.69DZD 224
23.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.80DZD 106
241.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.56DZD 73.5
250.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.50DZD 65.5
262.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.66DZD 86.7
128.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.37DZD 49.56
140.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.73DZD 361
148.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$9.09DZD 1,202
-12.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.36DZD 179
0.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.14DZD 283
12.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.23DZD 29.96
1165.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$17.09DZD 2,259
67.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.74DZD 97.5
518.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.37DZD 48.31
451.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$5.35DZD 707
436.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.34DZD 44.82
435.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
22.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-4.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$40.09DZD 5,300
365.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$9.37DZD 1,238
137.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$16.83DZD 2,226
116.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$18.04DZD 2,385
218.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$5.42DZD 717
98.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$95.2DZD 12.6K
661.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$3,660DZD 483.9K
313.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$36.91DZD 4,880
138.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$44.81DZD 5,925
-17.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$75.8DZD 10.0K
36.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$78.3DZD 10.4K
51.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$194DZD 25.7K
684.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$116DZD 15.4K
955.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$275DZD 36.3K
893.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$181DZD 23.9K
998.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,192DZD 157.6K
526.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,281DZD 169.4K
309.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$350DZD 46.2K
584.21%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $194 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 584% 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 $21.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $210 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 284% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $614 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 584% 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: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $194 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $95.2 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 52% 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 $614 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $2,359 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 284% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.