😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $733 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,270 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,806 in Umm As-summaq.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 238% more expensive than in Umm As-summaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Umm As-summaq is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.32
$7.17JOD 5.07
161.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$66.7JOD 47.18
4.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.99
$7.14JOD 5.05
92.86%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.74JOD 1.94
13.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.60JOD 0.43
371.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.60JOD 0.42
213.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$6.88JOD 4.87
-42.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$8.61JOD 6.09
-47.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.44JOD 1.02
-11.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.67JOD 0.48
222.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.39JOD 0.98
26.62%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$2.24JOD 1.58
129.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.58
$9.14JOD 6.47
95.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$2.76JOD 1.95
249.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.55
$12.89JOD 9.12
56.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$2.42JOD 1.71
34.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.00JOD 1.42
11.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.88JOD 1.33
38.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.86JOD 0.61
220.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.93JOD 0.66
137.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.83JOD 0.59
155.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.65JOD 0.46
138.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.61JOD 0.43
55.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$2.87JOD 2.03
155.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$16.79JOD 11.88
-52.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$4.15JOD 2.93
-62.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$4.16JOD 2.95
-32.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.61JOD 0.43
436.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.43JOD 1.02
3.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.86
$7.08JOD 5.01
384.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.61JOD 1.14
7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$35.3KJOD 25.0K
3.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$34.2KJOD 24.2K
-10.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$53.5JOD 37.88
249.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.19
$15.44JOD 10.92
-1.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.83
$32.25JOD 22.83
16.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.73
$56.4JOD 39.94
-0.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.88
$49.88JOD 35.30
-65.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.94
$11.49JOD 8.13
-0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€868
$353JOD 250
182.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$5,679JOD 4,019
191.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.7
$57.1JOD 40.44
62.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.91
$63.7JOD 45.04
-35.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$128JOD 90.3
-12.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$87.3JOD 61.8
43.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,487
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,120
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,235
$787JOD 557
226.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,692
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,662
$1,707JOD 1,208
348.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,501
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,046
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.81
-53.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Umm As-summaq: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $67.0 in Umm As-summaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $229 per month, with Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Umm As-summaq?
Barcelona and Umm As-summaq differ by about 238% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $733 including rent). Umm As-summaq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Umm As-summaq?
You'd need roughly $3,714 in Barcelona and $1,100 in Umm As-summaq to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Umm As-summaq?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $353 in Umm As-summaq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Umm As-summaq – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $733 in Umm As-summaq versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Umm As-summaq but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Umm As-summaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Umm As-summaq?
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 Umm As-summaq safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq?
Expats usually find Umm As-summaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 238% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.