🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in El Jadida versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in El Jadida versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,310 in El Jadida versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in El Jadida costs roughly 73% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Jadida is 52% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.78MAD 34.77
$17.58€15.12
-78.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61MAD 180
$68.4€58.9
-71.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.69MAD 61.5
$14.06€12.09
-52.42%
Cappuccino
$1.52MAD 13.95
$2.78€2.39
-45.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MAD 4.24
$2.80€2.41
-83.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 2.93
$2.06€1.78
-84.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83MAD 26.03
$4.46€3.84
-36.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21MAD 29.48
$4.61€3.96
-30.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.75
$1.24€1.07
-32.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44MAD 4.02
$2.03€1.74
-78.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76MAD 16.21
$1.92€1.65
-8.33%
Eggs
$1.78MAD 16.38
$3.31€2.85
-46.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.88MAD 44.88
$18.43€15.85
-73.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87MAD 35.53
$9.49€8.16
-59.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.18MAD 75.2
$19.16€16.48
-57.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56MAD 14.36
$2.64€2.27
-40.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28MAD 11.76
$2.45€2.11
-47.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.58
$2.12€1.82
-66.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.17
$2.85€2.45
-72.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.79
$2.04€1.75
-63.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50MAD 4.61
$1.85€1.59
-72.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.04
$1.47€1.26
-77.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.20
$0.84€0.73
-32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18MAD 38.45
$7.14€6.14
-41.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.47MAD 41.04
$7.88€6.78
-43.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38MAD 21.83
$1.38€1.19
72.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93MAD 26.96
$2.31€1.99
26.84%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.69
$2.98€2.56
-82.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.35MAD 242
$29.26€25.17
-9.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08MAD 9.91
$4.60€3.95
-76.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.43
$2.07€1.78
-76.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.33MAD 30.60
$29.18€25.10
-88.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MAD 13.91
$1.84€1.58
-17.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KMAD 298.7K
$39.0K€33.6K
-16.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KMAD 276.3K
$32.7K€28.1K
-8.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.07MAD 295
$188€162
-82.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.03MAD 101
$22.93€19.73
-51.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.95MAD 303
$36.71€31.58
-10.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.12MAD 249
$57.4€49.35
-52.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.45MAD 160
$20.70€17.80
-15.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59MAD 60.6
$11.19€9.63
-41.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.7MAD 815
$721€620
-87.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,576MAD 23.7K
$15.0K€12.9K
-82.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.67MAD 374
$86.2€74.2
-52.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.56MAD 373
$37.07€31.89
9.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4MAD 628
$102€87.8
-33.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.3MAD 563
$116€99.7
-47.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$223MAD 2,052
$1,534€1,319
-85.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,592
$1,220€1,050
-85.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380MAD 3,493
$2,696€2,319
-85.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242MAD 2,225
$2,013€1,732
-87.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,660MAD 15.3K
$7,220€6,211
-77.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$840MAD 7,721
$5,189€4,463
-83.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$486MAD 4,463
$2,359€2,029
-79.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.39
47.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Jadida: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $223 in El Jadida and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 386% 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: $20.00 in El Jadida vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $318 per month, with El Jadida 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
El Jadida vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Jadida and Barcelona?
El Jadida and Barcelona differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($647 vs $2,367 including rent). El Jadida is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 386% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in El Jadida and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $223 in El Jadida versus $1,534 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 El Jadida and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $88.7 in El Jadida versus $721 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 118% 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 $647 in El Jadida versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Jadida but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes El Jadida the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between El Jadida 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 El Jadida or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, El Jadida 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: El Jadida or Barcelona?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.