🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,024 in Ha'il versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Ha'il versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,925 in Ha'il versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Ha'il costs roughly 56% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ha'il is 24% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83SAR 25.60
$17.61€15.08
-61.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.28SAR 94.8
$68.7€58.8
-63.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.19SAR 26.97
$13.75€11.77
-47.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05SAR 3.93
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SAR 8.17
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.29SAR 12.35
$2.76€2.36
19.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04SAR 3.92
$2.78€2.38
-62.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32SAR 1.20
$2.05€1.75
-84.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.61€3.94
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.59€3.93
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.28€1.10
34.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84SAR 3.17
$2.11€1.81
-60.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83SAR 6.85
$1.97€1.69
-7.11%
Eggs
$1.97SAR 7.40
$3.44€2.95
-42.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.67SAR 25.03
$18.83€16.12
-64.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.91SAR 33.42
$9.45€8.09
-5.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.23SAR 30.85
$19.01€16.27
-56.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.85
$2.72€2.33
-42.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.62
$2.37€2.03
-36.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.86
$2.08€1.78
-37.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96SAR 7.34
$2.76€2.36
-28.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31SAR 4.90
$1.97€1.69
-33.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.79€1.53
-8.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06SAR 3.96
$1.51€1.29
-29.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48SAR 1.82
$0.90€0.77
-46.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.57SAR 9.65
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75SAR 6.55
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11SAR 7.92
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.20SAR 26.98
$6.76€5.79
6.51%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.55€6.46
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.44€1.23
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.41€2.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$3.03€2.59
-65.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.36SAR 148
$28.39€24.30
38.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.08
$4.43€3.79
-39.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.11
$2.05€1.76
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.46SAR 50.5
$29.33€25.11
-54.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.36
$1.89€1.62
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KSAR 99.6K
$38.7K€33.2K
-31.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KSAR 82.9K
$32.4K€27.7K
-31.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.5SAR 197
$189€161
-72.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.05SAR 78.9
$22.21€19.01
-5.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.26SAR 177
$36.82€31.52
28.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.0SAR 251
$58.0€49.64
15.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.14SAR 132
$20.99€17.97
67.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.69SAR 55.1
$11.05€9.46
32.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$360SAR 1,350
$726€622
-50.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,874SAR 25.8K
$15.2K€13.0K
-54.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3SAR 226
$88.3€75.6
-31.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3SAR 230
$36.98€31.66
65.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1SAR 293
$103€87.8
-23.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1SAR 311
$119€102
-30.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483SAR 1,813
$1,526€1,307
-68.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329SAR 1,234
$1,218€1,043
-72.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$448SAR 1,680
$2,794€2,392
-83.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356SAR 1,337
$2,027€1,735
-82.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,369SAR 8,883
$7,094€6,073
-66.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314SAR 4,926
$4,849€4,151
-72.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052SAR 3,944
$2,404€2,058
-56.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.39
30.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ha'il: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Ha'il and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 129% 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: $25.00 in Ha'il vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $320 per month, with Ha'il 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
Ha'il vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ha'il and Barcelona?
Ha'il and Barcelona differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($1,024 vs $2,341 including rent). Ha'il 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 129% 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 Ha'il and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Ha'il 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 Ha'il and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $360 in Ha'il 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 78% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,024 in Ha'il versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ha'il but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ha'il the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ha'il 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 Ha'il or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ha'il 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: Ha'il or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Ha'il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.