🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $560 in Gabes versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $879 in Gabes versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,199 in Gabes versus $4,599 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 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78TND 8.12
$17.08€14.72
-83.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.87TND 55.1
$69.2€59.7
-72.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.62TND 10.55
$13.78€11.87
-73.73%
Cappuccino
$0.82TND 2.40
$2.76€2.37
-70.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65TND 1.90
$2.79€2.40
-76.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$1.99€1.72
-87.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22TND 3.55
$4.36€3.76
-72.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57TND 4.58
$4.74€4.09
-66.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48TND 1.40
$1.29€1.11
-62.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16TND 0.45
$2.05€1.77
-92.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28TND 3.73
$1.99€1.71
-35.68%
Eggs
$1.71TND 5.00
$3.39€2.92
-49.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24TND 35.70
$18.81€16.21
-34.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.67TND 16.54
$9.36€8.07
-39.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.07TND 41.06
$19.12€16.48
-26.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56TND 4.56
$2.70€2.32
-42.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95TND 8.61
$2.34€2.02
26.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86TND 2.51
$2.12€1.83
-59.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57TND 1.67
$2.85€2.46
-80.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.94
$1.97€1.70
-66.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61TND 1.78
$1.80€1.55
-66.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33TND 0.96
$1.45€1.25
-77.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.86€0.74
-63.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33TND 9.72
$6.78€5.84
-50.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.51TND 10.24
$7.90€6.81
-55.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 2.01
$1.39€1.20
-50.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89TND 2.59
$2.37€2.04
-62.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21TND 0.62
$2.92€2.52
-92.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.83TND 19.94
$28.69€24.72
-76.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29TND 0.84
$4.46€3.84
-93.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22TND 0.63
$2.05€1.77
-89.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.13TND 17.88
$29.55€25.46
-79.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89TND 2.59
$1.82€1.56
-51.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.8KTND 133.8K
$38.8K€33.5K
18.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KTND 82.9K
$33.1K€28.5K
-14.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.5TND 185
$189€163
-66.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.60TND 22.17
$22.80€19.65
-66.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.77TND 48.93
$37.59€32.39
-55.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.63TND 92.3
$57.7€49.75
-45.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.87TND 14.21
$20.74€17.87
-76.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32TND 18.44
$10.82€9.33
-41.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.2TND 170
$728€628
-92.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,168TND 9,243
$14.8K€12.7K
-78.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.62TND 95.2
$88.6€76.4
-63.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.98TND 117
$36.85€31.75
8.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4TND 223
$102€87.9
-25.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.4TND 246
$116€100
-27.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$113TND 330
$1,569€1,352
-92.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.5TND 206
$1,218€1,050
-94.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204TND 596
$2,795€2,409
-92.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118TND 343
$1,975€1,702
-94.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$998TND 2,913
$7,754€6,680
-87.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$639TND 1,864
$5,176€4,460
-87.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$417TND 1,216
$2,343€2,019
-82.22%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Gabes and $1,569 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: $19.00 in Gabes vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $319 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 317% in total monthly costs ($560 vs $2,337 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 462% 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: $113 in Gabes versus $1,569 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 $58.2 in Gabes versus $728 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 79% 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 $560 in Gabes versus $2,337 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 317% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.