😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $556 in Souk Ahras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $858 in Souk Ahras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,161 in Souk Ahras.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 321% more expensive than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Souk Ahras is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$2.35DZD 311
649.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$10.64DZD 1,409
545.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$4.02DZD 533
242.04%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$0.69DZD 91.7
300.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.54DZD 71.5
414.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.23DZD 30.54
791.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.96DZD 260
135.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.31DZD 305
98.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$0.89DZD 117
43.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$0.18DZD 24.34
1072.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.30DZD 172
51.54%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.90DZD 252
81.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$3.38DZD 447
457.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$2.94DZD 389
221.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$16.65DZD 2,206
14.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.56DZD 206
74.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$3.05DZD 404
-22.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.26DZD 167
65.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.18DZD 156
133.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.43DZD 57.5
358.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.38DZD 50.6
371.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.25DZD 33.27
504.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.27DZD 35.57
233.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.22DZD 295
204.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$6.53DZD 866
15.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.30DZD 172
10.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.15DZD 285
12.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.19DZD 24.72
1494.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$17.43DZD 2,310
62.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.71DZD 94.2
523.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.45DZD 59.3
355.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$5.23DZD 693
460.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.33DZD 43.88
472.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$33.0KDZD 4.4M
17.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
-4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$41.31DZD 5,473
356.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$9.37DZD 1,241
137.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$20.16DZD 2,672
82.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$11.93DZD 1,581
386.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$4.00DZD 530
424.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.32DZD 704
107.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$90.5DZD 12.0K
702.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,586DZD 475.2K
324.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$31.38DZD 4,158
181.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$44.61DZD 5,911
-17.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$80.9DZD 10.7K
26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$80.3DZD 10.6K
48.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$194DZD 25.7K
687.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$117DZD 15.5K
941.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$295DZD 39.1K
846.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$179DZD 23.7K
1033.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$314DZD 41.7K
2156.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$279DZD 36.9K
1639.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$308DZD 40.8K
680.41%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Souk Ahras: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $194 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 680% 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 $11.00 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 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 Souk Ahras?
Barcelona and Souk Ahras differ by about 321% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $556 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?
Barcelona pays 680% 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 Souk Ahras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $194 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $90.5 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 $556 in Souk Ahras versus $2,341 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 321% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.