😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $687 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,040 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,392 in Tetouan.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 260% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Tetouan is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$3.01MAD 28.56
522.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$18.21MAD 173
281.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$8.26MAD 78.4
66.71%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.88MAD 17.85
64.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.76MAD 7.21
272.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.35MAD 3.33
437.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.66MAD 25.27
49.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.22MAD 30.57
40.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.01MAD 9.59
25.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.27MAD 2.57
700.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.92MAD 18.21
-8.33%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.68MAD 15.93
205.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$5.87MAD 55.7
204.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$7.11MAD 67.4
35.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$12.77MAD 121
57.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$1.59MAD 15.09
104.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.43MAD 13.58
55.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$0.91MAD 8.58
185.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.88MAD 8.31
213.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.86MAD 8.16
156.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.79MAD 7.51
168.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.52MAD 4.95
198.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.61MAD 5.76
55.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$3.70MAD 35.09
98.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$8.83MAD 83.7
-8.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$2.20MAD 20.88
-30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.59MAD 24.52
7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.55MAD 5.17
465.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$12.49MAD 118
107.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.77MAD 7.35
324.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.14MAD 10.82
29.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$3.53MAD 33.51
870.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.51MAD 14.32
14.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$35.4KMAD 335.8K
2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$31.5KMAD 298.3K
-2.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$44.82MAD 425
317.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$10.95MAD 104
38.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$41.65MAD 395
-9.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$14.97MAD 142
273.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$12.00MAD 114
42.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$3.87MAD 36.70
194.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$48.10MAD 456
1971.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$5,998MAD 56.9K
175.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$18.03MAD 171
413.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$47.85MAD 454
-13.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$56.4MAD 535
97.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$66.6MAD 632
87.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$216MAD 2,051
689.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$165MAD 1,566
678.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$413MAD 3,912
521.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$261MAD 2,473
644.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,110MAD 10.5K
588.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$713MAD 6,760
624.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$410MAD 3,887
472.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
5.5
-42.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $216 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 473% 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 $18.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $191 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 in Tetouan?
Barcelona and Tetouan differ by about 260% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $687 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?
Average pay runs 473% 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 Tetouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $216 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $48.10 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 76% 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 $687 in Tetouan versus $2,476 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 260% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.