🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Beni Mellal versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,024 in Beni Mellal versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,392 in Beni Mellal versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Beni Mellal costs roughly 74% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Beni Mellal is 52% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79MAD 35.35
$18.39€15.87
-79.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.44MAD 247
$69.2€59.7
-61.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.64MAD 52.6
$14.13€12.19
-60.08%
Cappuccino
$1.28MAD 11.91
$3.13€2.70
-59.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67MAD 6.22
$3.02€2.60
-77.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MAD 3.39
$1.96€1.69
-81.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67MAD 24.89
$4.00€3.45
-33.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18MAD 29.71
$4.76€4.11
-33.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92MAD 8.55
$1.25€1.08
-26.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69MAD 6.47
$2.16€1.87
-68.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MAD 17.64
$1.69€1.45
11.83%
Eggs
$1.72MAD 16.10
$4.93€4.26
-65.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.67MAD 109
$17.88€15.43
-34.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.96MAD 65.0
$9.61€8.29
-27.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.64MAD 99.3
$19.34€16.69
-44.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26MAD 11.74
$3.24€2.79
-61.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09MAD 10.18
$2.18€1.88
-50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.39
$2.67€2.30
-74.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85MAD 7.90
$2.77€2.39
-69.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.32
$2.21€1.91
-69.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.67
$2.19€1.89
-67.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.11
$1.52€1.31
-78.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.17
$0.92€0.80
-28.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03MAD 37.60
$7.12€6.14
-43.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72MAD 72.0
$8.14€7.02
-5.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78MAD 25.99
$1.50€1.29
85.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69MAD 25.16
$2.78€2.40
-3.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33MAD 3.08
$3.15€2.72
-89.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.81MAD 82.2
$26.99€23.29
-67.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78MAD 7.27
$3.25€2.80
-76.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89MAD 8.33
$1.50€1.30
-40.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.65MAD 24.71
$34.89€30.11
-92.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60MAD 14.96
$1.75€1.51
-8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KMAD 329.6K
$36.7K€31.6K
-3.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KMAD 303.1K
$30.9K€26.7K
4.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.37MAD 340
$188€162
-80.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.37MAD 96.8
$15.44€13.32
-32.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.88MAD 251
$37.80€32.61
-28.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.43MAD 200
$57.2€49.34
-62.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.45MAD 154
$16.80€14.49
-2.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48MAD 60.5
$11.58€9.99
-44.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189MAD 1,766
$1,003€865
-81.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,165MAD 66.9K
$17.0K€14.7K
-57.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6MAD 472
$89.2€77.0
-43.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.32MAD 423
$40.87€35.27
10.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3MAD 703
$110€94.9
-31.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.0MAD 654
$123€106
-42.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204MAD 1,903
$1,673€1,444
-87.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136MAD 1,273
$1,331€1,149
-89.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$295MAD 2,753
$2,596€2,240
-88.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203MAD 1,898
$1,950€1,683
-89.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,573€6,535
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,370€4,634
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beni Mellal
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,402€2,073
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
3.16
43.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beni Mellal: August 30, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Beni Mellal and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Beni Mellal vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $332 per month, with Beni Mellal 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
Beni Mellal vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beni Mellal and in Barcelona?
Beni Mellal and Barcelona differ by about 280% in total monthly costs ($656 vs $2,495 including rent). Beni Mellal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Beni Mellal compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $984 in Beni Mellal and $3,743 in Barcelona 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Beni Mellal and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $204 in Beni Mellal versus $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beni Mellal and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $189 in Beni Mellal versus $1,003 in Barcelona. 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 66% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $656 in Beni Mellal versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beni Mellal but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Beni Mellal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beni Mellal and Barcelona?
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 Beni Mellal or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beni Mellal and Barcelona 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: Beni Mellal or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Beni Mellal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 280% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Beni Mellal vs other spots: cost of living compared