😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $553 in Souk Ahras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $845 in Souk Ahras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,137 in Souk Ahras.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 334% more expensive than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Souk Ahras is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$2.44DZD 324
624.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$10.97DZD 1,455
538.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$3.95DZD 524
245.82%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$0.70DZD 93.4
291.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.50DZD 66.6
458.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.23DZD 30.54
752.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.97DZD 262
121.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.44DZD 324
87.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.82DZD 109
57.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.17DZD 22.85
1105.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.31DZD 173
51.15%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.96DZD 259
72.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$3.45DZD 457
440.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$2.91DZD 386
228.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$16.47DZD 2,185
14.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.55DZD 206
77.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.98DZD 396
-17.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.20DZD 160
75.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.23DZD 164
129.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$0.44DZD 57.9
359.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.41DZD 54.4
351.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.23DZD 30.43
556.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.29DZD 38.79
210.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.28DZD 302
209.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$6.13DZD 814
30.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.31DZD 173
9.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.15DZD 285
6.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.23DZD 29.85
1152.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$17.60DZD 2,334
61.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$0.69DZD 92.0
534.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.44DZD 58.0
386.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$5.18DZD 687
462.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$0.33DZD 44.33
463.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
19.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$40.58DZD 5,381
365.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$9.60DZD 1,273
136.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$19.81DZD 2,627
84.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$12.12DZD 1,607
375.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$3.86DZD 512
453.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$5.36DZD 710
101.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$92.4DZD 12.2K
686.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$3,667DZD 486.3K
311.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$30.67DZD 4,067
185.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$45.80DZD 6,073
-19.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$80.9DZD 10.7K
27.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$79.9DZD 10.6K
45.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$193DZD 25.6K
715.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$113DZD 15.0K
976.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$301DZD 40.0K
799.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$179DZD 23.8K
997.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$1,129DZD 149.7K
592.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$1,156DZD 153.3K
355.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$298DZD 39.5K
697.44%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Souk Ahras: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $193 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 697% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $164 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 334% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $553 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 697% 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: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $193 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 $92.4 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 96% 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 $553 in Souk Ahras versus $2,399 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 334% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.