😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $660 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $983 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,306 in Tetouan.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 251% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Tetouan is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.45
$3.24MAD 30.17
445.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$19.15MAD 179
263.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.39
$7.14MAD 66.6
98.32%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.64MAD 15.33
70.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.66MAD 6.18
325.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.35MAD 3.30
488.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.02
$2.72MAD 25.33
69.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.10
$3.26MAD 30.36
43.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.88MAD 8.21
39.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.27MAD 2.54
651.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.61MAD 14.99
22.98%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.81MAD 16.85
92.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.04
$4.47MAD 41.66
310.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.60
$5.37MAD 50.1
83.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.73
$10.50MAD 97.9
82.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$1.29MAD 11.98
111.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.37MAD 12.78
73.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$0.77MAD 7.18
170.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.79MAD 7.37
248.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.64MAD 5.96
206.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.72MAD 6.75
148.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.46MAD 4.30
221.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.64MAD 5.97
42.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.24
$4.03MAD 37.54
76.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.89
$8.61MAD 80.3
-8.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.82MAD 16.94
-24.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.08MAD 19.37
14.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.63
$0.47MAD 4.39
540.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.68
$13.34MAD 124
120.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.57MAD 5.36
664.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.02MAD 9.48
108.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.90
$3.55MAD 33.09
733.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.55MAD 14.42
17.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.1K
$36.7KMAD 341.8K
3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.3K
$24.0KMAD 224.0K
34.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$42.68MAD 398
342.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.50
$10.03MAD 93.5
122.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.51
$39.41MAD 367
-5.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$13.93MAD 130
316.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.08
$12.53MAD 117
64.88%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.51
$4.00MAD 37.30
171.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$44.72MAD 417
1478.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$5,154MAD 48.1K
188.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$18.54MAD 173
382.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.02
$46.91MAD 437
-21.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.0
$58.1MAD 542
78.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$70.8MAD 660
68.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,381
$218MAD 2,035
623.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,083
$186MAD 1,737
564.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,373
$470MAD 4,379
477.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,784
$275MAD 2,569
640.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,585
$1,106MAD 10.3K
580.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,584
$783MAD 7,304
568.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,068
$425MAD 3,963
456.23%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $218 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 456% 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 $19.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 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 in Tetouan?
Barcelona and Tetouan differ by about 251% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $660 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 456% 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: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $218 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $44.72 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 97% 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 $660 in Tetouan versus $2,320 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 251% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.