Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Souk Ahras Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Souk Ahras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $526 in Souk Ahras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $798 in Souk Ahras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,070 in Souk Ahras.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 371% more expensive than in Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Souk Ahras is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$2.45 DZD 328
664.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$10.67 DZD 1,426
551.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$3.51 DZD 469
292.31%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$0.70 DZD 93.2
342.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$0.51 DZD 67.5
454.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$0.28 DZD 37.51
571.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$1.33 DZD 178
199.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$2.04 DZD 273
122.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$0.88 DZD 118
44.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
$0.23 DZD 30.27
839.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.23 DZD 165
43.09%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
$1.41 DZD 188
263.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
$3.34 DZD 446
435.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
$2.86 DZD 382
237.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
$17.02 DZD 2,274
18.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$1.53 DZD 205
112.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$3.11 DZD 415
-28.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$1.10 DZD 147
136.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
$0.94 DZD 126
193.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$0.44 DZD 58.9
402.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
$0.41 DZD 55.3
417.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
$0.23 DZD 30.58
573.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$0.29 DZD 38.89
227.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
$2.27 DZD 303
223.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
$6.56 DZD 876
22.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$1.44 DZD 192
6.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$1.83 DZD 245
52.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
$0.19 DZD 25.52
1536.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
$6.28 DZD 839
311.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$0.56 DZD 75.3
483.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.54 DZD 72.6
174.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
$4.31 DZD 576
695.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$0.33 DZD 44.46
424.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$37.0K DZD 4.9M
-1.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
$36.1K DZD 4.8M
-15.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$38.15 DZD 5,096
390.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$9.27 DZD 1,238
63.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$20.16 DZD 2,693
86.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
$11.92 DZD 1,593
369.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
$4.04 DZD 540
322.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$4.69 DZD 627
143.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
$92.0 DZD 12.3K
983.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$3,250 DZD 434.2K
408.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$30.68 DZD 4,098
201.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$41.01 DZD 5,478
0.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$81.2 DZD 10.8K
36.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$79.7 DZD 10.6K
57.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
$156 DZD 20.8K
994.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
$107 DZD 14.3K
1104.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$296 DZD 39.5K
768.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
$178 DZD 23.7K
994.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
$1,308 DZD 174.8K
484.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
$275 DZD 36.7K
1781.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$304 DZD 40.6K
672.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
5.3
-40.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $156 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 672% 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 $336 vs $163 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 371% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $526 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 672% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $156 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $92.0 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 106% 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 $526 in Souk Ahras versus $2,476 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 371% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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