🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in El Jadida versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $967 in El Jadida versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,282 in El Jadida versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in El Jadida costs roughly 74% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Jadida is 53% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.87MAD 27.01
$18.42€15.88
-84.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.20MAD 199
$69.4€59.8
-69.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21MAD 58.4
$14.05€12.11
-55.80%
Cappuccino
$1.59MAD 14.96
$3.11€2.68
-48.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.43
$2.96€2.55
-84.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29MAD 2.68
$1.95€1.69
-85.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79MAD 26.24
$3.99€3.44
-30.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63MAD 24.67
$4.62€3.98
-43.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96MAD 9.01
$1.32€1.14
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$2.11€1.82
-80.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97MAD 18.53
$1.83€1.57
7.65%
Eggs
$1.94MAD 18.19
$5.16€4.45
-62.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.56MAD 61.6
$17.56€15.14
-62.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20MAD 39.49
$9.50€8.19
-55.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.20MAD 77.0
$19.93€17.18
-58.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 14.94
$3.17€2.73
-49.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MAD 13.84
$2.21€1.91
-33.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.74
$2.61€2.25
-72.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.32
$2.85€2.46
-76.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69MAD 6.46
$2.17€1.87
-68.20%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48MAD 4.48
$2.11€1.81
-77.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.14
$1.62€1.39
-79.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MAD 5.07
$0.88€0.76
-38.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98MAD 37.44
$7.17€6.18
-44.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.15MAD 38.99
$8.33€7.18
-50.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61MAD 24.52
$1.50€1.29
74.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02MAD 28.42
$2.75€2.37
9.82%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.38
$3.14€2.70
-85.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.20MAD 162
$26.25€22.63
-34.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08MAD 10.17
$3.22€2.78
-66.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09MAD 10.25
$1.51€1.30
-27.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.46MAD 51.3
$35.26€30.39
-84.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56MAD 14.65
$1.75€1.51
-10.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMAD 327.8K
$36.7K€31.6K
-4.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMAD 293.1K
$31.7K€27.3K
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.29MAD 275
$187€161
-84.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52MAD 98.9
$15.10€13.01
-30.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.46MAD 305
$37.60€32.41
-13.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.84MAD 280
$55.5€47.83
-46.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61MAD 118
$16.74€14.43
-24.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58MAD 61.8
$11.71€10.09
-43.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116MAD 1,086
$1,011€871
-88.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,239MAD 30.4K
$17.1K€14.7K
-81.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.85MAD 271
$91.4€78.8
-68.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.71MAD 354
$41.00€35.34
-8.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.7MAD 627
$111€95.3
-39.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0MAD 695
$126€109
-41.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211MAD 1,987
$1,704€1,469
-87.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,624
$1,299€1,120
-86.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369MAD 3,465
$2,588€2,231
-85.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237MAD 2,227
$1,929€1,663
-87.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,570MAD 14.8K
$7,732€6,665
-79.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$818MAD 7,688
$5,384€4,641
-84.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$482MAD 4,530
$2,374€2,046
-79.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
3.16
74.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Jadida: September 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in El Jadida and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 392% 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: $21.00 in El Jadida vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $333 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 281% in total monthly costs ($651 vs $2,482 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 392% 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: $211 in El Jadida versus $1,704 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 $116 in El Jadida versus $1,011 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 114% 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 $651 in El Jadida versus $2,482 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 281% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.