😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $654 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $970 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,287 in Tetouan.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 262% more expensive than Tetouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Tetouan is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$3.26MAD 30.04
439.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$18.97MAD 175
260.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$7.16MAD 65.9
96.37%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.73MAD 15.90
60.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.66MAD 6.05
324.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.33MAD 3.00
524.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.68MAD 24.72
66.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$3.24MAD 29.79
42.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.87MAD 8.01
42.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.25MAD 2.28
712.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.55MAD 14.24
23.87%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.80MAD 16.60
83.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$4.65MAD 42.78
296.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$5.58MAD 51.3
70.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$10.45MAD 96.2
83.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.24MAD 11.45
112.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.30MAD 11.97
88.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.72MAD 6.65
194.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.75MAD 6.90
280.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.65MAD 5.99
213.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.67MAD 6.17
176.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.45MAD 4.17
226.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.65MAD 5.95
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$4.04MAD 37.15
76.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$8.91MAD 82.0
-11.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.75MAD 16.07
-21.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.06MAD 18.92
12.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.47MAD 4.29
534.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$13.34MAD 123
119.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$0.53MAD 4.88
767.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.07MAD 9.85
93.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$3.42MAD 31.53
753.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.56MAD 14.36
17.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$37.1KMAD 341.5K
5.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$24.5KMAD 225.2K
33.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$42.41MAD 390
342.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$10.21MAD 94.0
124.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$40.02MAD 368
-8.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$14.08MAD 130
307.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$12.55MAD 116
64.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$3.87MAD 35.63
189.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$44.65MAD 411
1514.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$5,150MAD 47.4K
192.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$19.27MAD 177
347.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$46.66MAD 430
-20.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$59.5MAD 548
71.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$68.9MAD 634
68.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$217MAD 1,999
606.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$183MAD 1,687
566.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$478MAD 4,404
463.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$273MAD 2,517
636.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$1,160MAD 10.7K
522.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$807MAD 7,425
543.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
$429MAD 3,953
449.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.35
-22.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $217 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 449% 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 $19.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $162 per month, with Tetouan 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 Tetouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Tetouan?
Barcelona and Tetouan differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $654 including rent). Tetouan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Tetouan?
Barcelona pays 449% 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 Tetouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $217 in Tetouan. 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 Tetouan?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $44.65 in Tetouan. 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 $654 in Tetouan versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tetouan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tetouan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tetouan?
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 Tetouan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tetouan 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 Tetouan?
Expats usually find Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.