😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $541 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $889 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,236 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 357% more expensive than in Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Sidi Bel Abbes is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$2.38DZD 318
687.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$21.59DZD 2,883
221.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$4.00DZD 535
244.25%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$0.37DZD 49.78
737.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.64DZD 86.0
342.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.26DZD 34.33
623.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.76DZD 235
126.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.04DZD 406
49.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.01DZD 135
25.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.09DZD 12.16
2300.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.06DZD 141
66.04%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.60DZD 214
220.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$9.99DZD 1,334
78.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$4.31DZD 576
123.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$13.82DZD 1,847
45.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.71DZD 363
19.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.41DZD 322
-7.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.46DZD 195
78.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.45DZD 60.1
513.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.34DZD 45.92
550.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.64DZD 85.8
231.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.66DZD 88.7
134.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.37DZD 48.88
156.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$1.91DZD 255
284.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$10.22DZD 1,365
-21.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$2.26DZD 302
-31.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$0.95DZD 127
193.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.20DZD 26.98
1455.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$6.73DZD 899
284.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.74DZD 99.1
341.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.32DZD 42.44
362.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$2.35DZD 314
1358.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.33DZD 44.13
424.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$16.5KDZD 2.2M
120.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$30.7KDZD 4.1M
-0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$20.35DZD 2,719
819.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$8.95DZD 1,195
69.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$17.44DZD 2,330
116.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$17.54DZD 2,343
218.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$1.55DZD 208
636.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$57.6DZD 7,697
1629.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$3,357DZD 448.5K
392.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$34.75DZD 4,642
166.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$56.7DZD 7,575
-27.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$83.2DZD 11.1K
33.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$85.2DZD 11.4K
46.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$157DZD 21.0K
985.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$106DZD 14.1K
1118.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$295DZD 39.4K
769.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$217DZD 29.0K
793.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,103DZD 147.4K
593.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$357DZD 47.7K
557.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.5
-51.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $157 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 558% 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 $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $194 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 357% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $541 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 558% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $157 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $57.6 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 73% 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 $541 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $2,476 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 357% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.