😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,348 in Tabuk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,016 in Tabuk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,685 in Tabuk.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 76% more expensive than Tabuk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Tabuk1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$8.75SAR 32.84
100.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$27.64SAR 104
147.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$7.18SAR 26.95
95.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.58SAR 5.94
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.91SAR 7.17
-
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.10SAR 11.64
-10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.76SAR 2.83
268.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.28SAR 1.06
635.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.83SAR 6.87
-32.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.52SAR 1.94
290.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.73SAR 10.23
-29.67%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.69SAR 10.11
23.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$12.19SAR 45.75
51.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$6.68SAR 25.06
42.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$12.95SAR 48.61
47.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.98SAR 7.45
33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.53SAR 5.74
60.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.79SAR 6.72
18.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.16SAR 8.12
31.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.71SAR 6.43
19.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.01SAR 7.54
-7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$2.00SAR 7.50
-26.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.57SAR 2.13
47.37%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.87SAR 10.79
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77SAR 6.63
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.08SAR 7.81
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$7.50SAR 28.14
-4.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$1.06SAR 3.97
181.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$39.99SAR 150
-26.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$2.69SAR 10.10
71.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.91SAR 7.17
8.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$13.20SAR 49.53
121.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.61SAR 2.30
201.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$26.4KSAR 99.2K
47.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$22.7KSAR 85.0K
44.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$160SAR 602
17.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$36.95SAR 139
-37.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$106SAR 399
-65.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$88.2SAR 331
-34.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$35.71SAR 134
-42.03%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$25.73SAR 96.6
-56.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$355SAR 1,334
102.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$8,448SAR 31.7K
78.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$59.5SAR 223
44.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$61.0SAR 229
-39.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$79.7SAR 299
27.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$82.7SAR 310
40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$344SAR 1,291
345.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$366SAR 1,374
233.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$822SAR 3,085
227.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$731SAR 2,743
175.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$2,677SAR 10.0K
169.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,526SAR 5,728
240.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tabuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$1,707SAR 6,406
38.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.42
-23.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tabuk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $344 in Tabuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 38% 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 $28.00 in Tabuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $215 per month, with Tabuk 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 Tabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Tabuk?
Barcelona and Tabuk differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,348 including rent). Tabuk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Tabuk?
Barcelona pays 38% 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 Tabuk?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $344 in Tabuk. 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 Tabuk?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $355 in Tabuk. 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 48% 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 $1,348 in Tabuk versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tabuk but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tabuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tabuk?
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 Tabuk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tabuk 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 Tabuk?
Expats usually find Tabuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.