🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $518 in Gabes versus $2,441 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $832 in Gabes versus $3,477 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,147 in Gabes versus $4,513 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Gabes costs roughly 79% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gabes is 62% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75TND 8.24
$18.35€16.30
-85.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.08TND 51.2
$66.9€59.4
-74.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.62TND 10.83
$13.75€12.21
-73.67%
Cappuccino
$0.84TND 2.50
$3.17€2.81
-73.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63TND 1.88
$2.88€2.55
-78.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.75
$1.95€1.73
-87.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22TND 3.67
$3.89€3.45
-68.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55TND 4.65
$4.50€3.99
-65.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.45TND 1.34
$1.28€1.14
-64.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23TND 0.69
$2.07€1.84
-88.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88TND 5.62
$1.79€1.59
5.03%
Eggs
$1.45TND 4.34
$5.04€4.48
-71.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.45TND 37.28
$17.29€15.36
-27.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.94TND 17.79
$9.41€8.36
-36.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.85TND 44.46
$19.40€17.23
-23.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69TND 5.05
$3.18€2.82
-46.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95TND 8.83
$2.09€1.86
41.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95TND 2.84
$2.64€2.35
-64.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90TND 2.68
$2.83€2.52
-68.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89TND 2.65
$2.20€1.96
-59.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57TND 1.69
$2.14€1.90
-73.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35TND 1.05
$1.59€1.42
-77.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32TND 0.97
$0.93€0.83
-65.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34TND 10.00
$7.25€6.44
-53.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.48TND 10.42
$8.00€7.11
-56.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73TND 2.19
$1.47€1.31
-50.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TND 2.46
$2.77€2.46
-70.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19TND 0.57
$2.94€2.61
-93.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.87TND 20.56
$25.97€23.07
-73.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.97
$3.06€2.72
-89.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18TND 0.54
$1.51€1.34
-88.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.04TND 12.10
$34.08€30.28
-88.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.44
$1.71€1.52
-52.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KTND 121.9K
$36.3K€32.2K
12.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KTND 86.5K
$30.6K€27.2K
-5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.17TND 135
$183€163
-75.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.48TND 22.41
$14.76€13.11
-49.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.84TND 50.4
$36.68€32.58
-54.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.76TND 95.1
$55.8€49.60
-43.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.75TND 14.21
$16.50€14.66
-71.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39TND 10.14
$11.30€10.03
-70.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.0TND 171
$983€873
-94.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,000TND 5,988
$16.7K€14.8K
-88.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.46TND 97.2
$91.9€81.7
-64.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63TND 122
$40.15€35.66
1.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0TND 225
$108€96.3
-30.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8TND 203
$122€109
-44.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$114TND 342
$1,689€1,500
-93.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.9TND 212
$1,323€1,175
-94.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206TND 616
$2,617€2,325
-92.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 352
$1,924€1,709
-93.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$981TND 2,938
$7,336€6,517
-86.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$634TND 1,899
$5,253€4,666
-87.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$411TND 1,232
$2,313€2,055
-82.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
3.16
279.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: September 29, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Gabes and $1,689 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 462% 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: $17.00 in Gabes vs $67.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $328 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 in Barcelona?
Gabes and Barcelona differ by about 372% in total monthly costs ($518 vs $2,441 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, salaries run 462% 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 Gabes and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $114 in Gabes versus $1,689 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 $57.0 in Gabes versus $983 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 75% 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 $518 in Gabes versus $2,441 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 372% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.