🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in El Jadida versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in El Jadida versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,307 in El Jadida versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in El Jadida costs roughly 71% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Jadida is 50% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.85MAD 35.91
$17.66€15.43
-78.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.90MAD 186
$69.7€60.9
-71.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75MAD 62.9
$14.16€12.37
-52.33%
Cappuccino
$1.52MAD 14.15
$2.80€2.45
-45.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43MAD 4.03
$2.81€2.46
-84.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 2.98
$2.06€1.80
-84.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76MAD 25.78
$4.60€4.02
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MAD 30.23
$4.69€4.10
-30.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88MAD 8.21
$1.23€1.07
-28.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.39
$2.03€1.78
-76.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85MAD 17.21
$1.98€1.73
-6.57%
Eggs
$1.86MAD 17.38
$3.49€3.05
-46.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.07MAD 47.25
$18.33€16.01
-72.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84MAD 35.83
$9.83€8.59
-60.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92MAD 73.8
$19.13€16.71
-58.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58MAD 14.74
$2.73€2.38
-42.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27MAD 11.83
$2.38€2.08
-46.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.04
$2.08€1.82
-63.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.46
$2.75€2.41
-70.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.38
$1.96€1.71
-59.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49MAD 4.61
$1.79€1.57
-72.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.10
$1.48€1.29
-77.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.63
$0.91€0.80
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03MAD 37.58
$7.13€6.23
-43.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.42MAD 41.17
$7.88€6.88
-43.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41MAD 22.52
$1.38€1.20
74.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93MAD 27.34
$2.39€2.09
22.59%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.69
$3.01€2.63
-83.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.83MAD 241
$29.35€25.65
-11.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07MAD 10.00
$4.36€3.81
-75.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MAD 4.56
$2.13€1.86
-77.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.32MAD 30.94
$29.60€25.86
-88.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.26
$1.82€1.59
-15.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KMAD 307.2K
$37.9K€33.1K
-13.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMAD 280.0K
$32.4K€28.3K
-7.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.73MAD 296
$189€165
-83.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.91MAD 102
$22.29€19.48
-51.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.07MAD 308
$37.16€32.47
-11.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.23MAD 254
$58.0€50.7
-53.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.78MAD 166
$20.66€18.05
-13.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68MAD 62.3
$10.87€9.50
-38.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.2MAD 832
$706€617
-87.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,638MAD 24.6K
$14.9K€13.0K
-82.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.04MAD 373
$89.4€78.2
-55.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.07MAD 383
$36.60€31.98
12.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4MAD 619
$104€90.9
-36.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.2MAD 561
$119€104
-49.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231MAD 2,155
$1,579€1,379
-85.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,613
$1,238€1,082
-86.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390MAD 3,633
$2,712€2,370
-85.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$250MAD 2,334
$2,039€1,782
-87.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,597MAD 14.9K
$7,527€6,576
-78.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$822MAD 7,661
$5,239€4,577
-84.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473MAD 4,411
$2,364€2,065
-79.99%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in El Jadida and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 400% 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 $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $320 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 in Barcelona?
El Jadida and Barcelona differ by about 249% in total monthly costs ($664 vs $2,320 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, salaries run 400% lower in Barcelona. 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $231 in El Jadida versus $1,579 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 $89.2 in El Jadida versus $706 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 116% 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 $664 in El Jadida versus $2,320 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 249% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.