🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $556 in Gabes versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $870 in Gabes versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,184 in Gabes versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Gabes costs roughly 76% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gabes is 58% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.88TND 8.32
$17.61€15.04
-83.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.87TND 54.5
$68.7€58.7
-72.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48TND 10.07
$13.75€11.74
-74.69%
Cappuccino
$0.83TND 2.41
$2.76€2.36
-69.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70TND 2.03
$2.78€2.38
-74.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$2.05€1.75
-87.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22TND 3.53
$4.61€3.93
-73.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61TND 4.66
$4.59€3.92
-64.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.45TND 1.31
$1.28€1.09
-64.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.19TND 0.56
$2.11€1.80
-91.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33TND 3.83
$1.97€1.68
-32.49%
Eggs
$1.73TND 5.01
$3.44€2.94
-49.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.22TND 35.32
$18.83€16.08
-35.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.70TND 16.48
$9.45€8.07
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63TND 39.40
$19.01€16.24
-28.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52TND 4.38
$2.72€2.32
-44.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83TND 8.17
$2.37€2.03
19.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94TND 2.73
$2.08€1.77
-54.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$2.76€2.36
-78.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.05
$1.97€1.68
-63.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61TND 1.75
$1.79€1.53
-65.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36TND 1.03
$1.51€1.29
-76.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.83
$0.90€0.77
-67.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29TND 9.52
$6.76€5.77
-51.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.38TND 9.77
$7.55€6.44
-55.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68TND 1.96
$1.44€1.23
-52.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87TND 2.51
$2.41€2.06
-63.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19TND 0.56
$3.03€2.59
-93.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.76TND 19.55
$28.39€24.25
-76.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29TND 0.83
$4.43€3.78
-93.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21TND 0.60
$2.05€1.75
-89.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.19TND 17.89
$29.33€25.05
-78.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89TND 2.57
$1.89€1.61
-52.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.3KTND 133.9K
$38.7K€33.1K
19.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KTND 84.3K
$32.4K€27.6K
-9.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.0TND 185
$189€161
-66.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.43TND 21.48
$22.21€18.96
-66.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01TND 49.17
$36.82€31.44
-53.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.85TND 92.0
$58.0€49.52
-45.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.83TND 13.96
$20.99€17.93
-76.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27TND 18.11
$11.05€9.44
-43.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.8TND 167
$726€620
-92.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,201TND 9,250
$15.2K€13.0K
-78.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.91TND 92.2
$88.3€75.4
-63.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.45TND 117
$36.98€31.58
9.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.8TND 222
$103€87.6
-25.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4TND 241
$119€102
-30.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116TND 336
$1,526€1,304
-92.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$72.5TND 210
$1,218€1,040
-94.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207TND 598
$2,794€2,386
-92.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120TND 346
$2,027€1,731
-94.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$958TND 2,770
$7,094€6,058
-86.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641TND 1,854
$4,849€4,141
-86.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$423TND 1,224
$2,404€2,053
-82.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
3.39
253.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: April 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Gabes and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 468% 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: $19.00 in Gabes vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $320 per month, with Gabes 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
Gabes vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gabes and Barcelona?
Gabes and Barcelona differ by about 321% in total monthly costs ($556 vs $2,341 including rent). Gabes 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 468% 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 Gabes and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Gabes versus $1,526 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 Gabes and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $57.8 in Gabes versus $726 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 82% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $556 in Gabes versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gabes but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Gabes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gabes 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 Gabes or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gabes 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: Gabes or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Gabes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 321% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.