😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $559 in Souk Ahras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $858 in Souk Ahras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,158 in Souk Ahras.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 322% more expensive than in Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Souk Ahras is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$2.38DZD 314
620.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$10.80DZD 1,428
530.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.96DZD 524
244.44%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$0.67DZD 88.4
314.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.50DZD 65.6
464.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.23DZD 30.50
752.17%
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 309
97.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$0.88DZD 117
44.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.23DZD 30.17
826.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.24DZD 164
60.48%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.97DZD 260
71.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$3.34DZD 441
467.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$2.79DZD 369
241.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$16.98DZD 2,246
10.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.56DZD 206
69.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$3.07DZD 406
-23.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.22DZD 162
71.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.18DZD 156
131.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.43DZD 56.9
355.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.41DZD 54.6
341.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.25DZD 33.30
504.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.29DZD 38.65
206.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.21DZD 292
206.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$5.88DZD 778
34.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.35DZD 179
1.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.18DZD 288
10.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.18DZD 23.24
1516.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$17.55DZD 2,321
63.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.65DZD 86.6
604.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.45DZD 59.1
353.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$5.24DZD 693
448.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.31DZD 40.93
487.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$32.5KDZD 4.3M
21.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-1.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$41.11DZD 5,435
353.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$9.53DZD 1,259
133.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$20.24DZD 2,676
79.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$12.20DZD 1,612
371.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$3.90DZD 515
431.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$5.50DZD 727
95.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$93.0DZD 12.3K
679.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$3,590DZD 474.7K
321.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$31.12DZD 4,114
182.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$45.62DZD 6,031
-19.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$78.8DZD 10.4K
31.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$80.3DZD 10.6K
47.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$198DZD 26.2K
669.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$115DZD 15.2K
964.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$301DZD 39.7K
807.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$183DZD 24.1K
986.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,147DZD 151.7K
551.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,113DZD 147.1K
371.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$296DZD 39.1K
708.45%
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 Souk Ahras: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $198 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 708% 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 $11.00 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $165 per month, with Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Souk Ahras?
Barcelona and Souk Ahras differ by about 322% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $559 including rent). Souk Ahras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Souk Ahras?
Average pay runs 708% 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 Souk Ahras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $198 in Souk Ahras. 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 Souk Ahras?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $93.0 in Souk Ahras. 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 93% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $559 in Souk Ahras versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Souk Ahras but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Souk Ahras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Souk Ahras?
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 Souk Ahras safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras?
Expats usually find Souk Ahras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 322% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.