🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $581 in Gabes versus $2,434 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $908 in Gabes versus $3,473 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Gabes versus $4,512 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 78% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76TND 7.97
$18.80€16.10
-85.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78TND 54.3
$69.5€59.5
-72.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.52TND 10.17
$14.08€12.06
-75.00%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.27
$3.12€2.67
-75.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74TND 2.15
$2.91€2.49
-74.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.78
$1.87€1.60
-85.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17TND 3.37
$4.00€3.42
-70.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58TND 4.56
$4.64€3.97
-65.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.32
$1.19€1.02
-61.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.22TND 0.63
$2.13€1.82
-89.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27TND 3.69
$1.84€1.57
-30.98%
Eggs
$1.64TND 4.74
$5.13€4.39
-68.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65TND 36.59
$16.39€14.04
-22.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78TND 16.72
$9.71€8.31
-40.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23TND 41.17
$19.65€16.83
-27.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93TND 5.57
$3.13€2.68
-38.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97TND 8.60
$2.18€1.87
36.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95TND 2.75
$2.46€2.11
-61.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.06
$2.77€2.37
-74.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83TND 2.41
$2.12€1.82
-60.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$2.23€1.91
-73.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36TND 1.03
$1.49€1.27
-75.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.85
$0.91€0.78
-68.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32TND 9.59
$7.26€6.22
-54.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.45TND 9.97
$8.29€7.10
-58.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75TND 2.17
$1.54€1.32
-51.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TND 2.36
$2.68€2.30
-69.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.51
$3.07€2.63
-94.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.77TND 19.58
$25.93€22.20
-73.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.86
$3.34€2.86
-91.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.20TND 0.59
$1.88€1.61
-89.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.98TND 11.50
$34.98€29.95
-88.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85TND 2.45
$1.74€1.49
-51.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7KTND 114.9K
$36.5K€31.3K
8.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KTND 84.9K
$31.5K€27.0K
-6.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.9TND 199
$183€157
-62.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.58TND 21.92
$15.70€13.45
-51.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85TND 48.73
$36.73€31.45
-54.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.03TND 92.6
$53.5€45.81
-40.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.65TND 13.46
$17.13€14.67
-72.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59TND 19.05
$11.51€9.86
-42.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.6TND 169
$952€815
-93.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,083TND 8,915
$16.2K€13.9K
-80.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.11TND 92.9
$82.5€70.6
-61.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.45TND 120
$40.47€34.65
2.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4TND 221
$108€92.3
-29.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108TND 313
$125€107
-13.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$114TND 329
$1,668€1,428
-93.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$72.0TND 208
$1,288€1,103
-94.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202TND 583
$2,663€2,280
-92.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118TND 340
$1,904€1,630
-93.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$968TND 2,799
$7,513€6,433
-87.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$622TND 1,798
$5,178€4,434
-87.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$424TND 1,226
$2,451€2,099
-82.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
3.12
284.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: August 17, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Gabes and $1,668 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 478% 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 $184 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 319% in total monthly costs ($581 vs $2,434 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 478% 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 $1,668 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 $58.6 in Gabes versus $952 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 78% 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 $581 in Gabes versus $2,434 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 319% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.