😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $378 in Zagazig.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $632 in Zagazig.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $885 in Zagazig.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 560% more expensive than in Zagazig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Zagazig is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.81
$3.92E£199
369.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$15.93E£810
334.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.15
$5.57E£283
153.68%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.69
$0.92E£46.97
240.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$0.29E£14.57
941.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.17E£8.61
1052.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$1.50E£76.4
166.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.09
$2.41E£123
97.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$0.72E£36.57
73.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$0.29E£14.65
644.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$0.56E£28.58
201.79%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$1.20E£60.9
310.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.38
$3.83E£195
366.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.26
$4.25E£216
126.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.63
$8.13E£414
137.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$1.34E£68.1
141.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$0.77E£39.13
183.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$0.41E£20.80
551.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.38
$0.23E£11.74
1104.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$0.42E£21.44
426.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$0.40E£20.57
447.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$0.10E£4.85
1420.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.22E£11.18
318.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.12
$2.12E£108
235.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€6.99
$8.11E£412
0.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.59E£81.1
-5.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.15E£110
29.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$0.12E£5.96
2525.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.21
$6.01E£306
349.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.79
$0.22E£11.29
1377.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$0.22E£10.99
581.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.00
$1.54E£78.4
2165.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$0.39E£20.07
348.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$34.5KE£1.8M
6.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$29.4KE£1.5M
5.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$14.88E£757
1160.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.28
$5.40E£275
185.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.50
$10.97E£558
244.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.17
$10.01E£509
471.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.95
$1.96E£99.7
490.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€862
$110E£5,619
807.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$3,392E£172.5K
401.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.7
$19.96E£1,015
346.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.14
$47.12E£2,397
-13.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$115E£5,837
-4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€105
$17.36E£883
606.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,439
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,145
$38.60E£1,963
3349.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,232
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,677
$98.1E£4,991
1887.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,511
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,617
$294E£15.0K
1724.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Zagazig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,065
$163E£8,310
1370.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
10
-68.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Zagazig: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Barcelona pays 1370% 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 $16.00 in Zagazig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $122 per month, with Zagazig 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 Zagazig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Zagazig?
Barcelona and Zagazig differ by about 560% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $378 including rent). Zagazig is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Zagazig?
Average pay runs 1370% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Zagazig?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $110 in Zagazig. 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 172% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $378 in Zagazig versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zagazig but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Zagazig the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Zagazig?
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 Zagazig safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Zagazig 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 Zagazig?
Expats usually find Zagazig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 560% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.