🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Ha'il versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Ha'il versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,152 in Ha'il versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ha'il costs roughly 59% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ha'il is 26% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.21SAR 19.57
$18.74€16.32
-72.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.78SAR 142
$69.5€60.5
-45.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.12SAR 22.98
$13.77€11.99
-55.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18SAR 4.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.52
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.63SAR 9.87
$3.10€2.70
-15.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61SAR 2.29
$2.83€2.47
-78.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24SAR 0.89
$1.88€1.64
-87.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.98€3.47
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.53€3.95
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.27€1.11
35.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84SAR 3.16
$2.16€1.88
-61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89SAR 7.10
$1.76€1.53
7.39%
Eggs
$1.94SAR 7.27
$5.13€4.47
-62.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.82SAR 25.63
$17.88€15.58
-61.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52SAR 32.01
$9.65€8.41
-11.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.27SAR 31.06
$20.15€17.55
-58.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.79
$3.25€2.83
-52.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$2.23€1.94
-29.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.68
$2.60€2.27
-51.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04SAR 7.68
$2.76€2.40
-26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.94
$2.21€1.93
-40.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.05
$2.12€1.85
-24.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14SAR 4.29
$1.55€1.35
-26.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48SAR 1.82
$0.95€0.83
-49.47%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.74SAR 10.29
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69SAR 6.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SAR 8.07
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.47SAR 24.29
$7.34€6.40
-11.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.05€7.01
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.54€1.35
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.79€2.43
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.14
$3.11€2.71
-64.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.42SAR 137
$25.86€22.53
40.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87SAR 10.77
$3.27€2.85
-12.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.82
$1.48€1.29
22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.42SAR 50.4
$34.27€29.86
-60.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.27
$1.73€1.51
-64.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.0KSAR 169.0K
$36.4K€31.7K
23.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KSAR 81.3K
$30.5K€26.6K
-29.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.2SAR 204
$187€163
-71.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.14SAR 79.4
$15.14€13.19
39.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.43SAR 174
$37.69€32.83
23.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.4SAR 249
$55.9€48.73
18.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.77SAR 138
$17.08€14.88
115.28%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92SAR 56.0
$11.41€9.94
30.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349SAR 1,311
$997€868
-64.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,537SAR 24.5K
$16.5K€14.4K
-60.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8SAR 191
$92.6€80.7
-45.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0SAR 221
$41.22€35.91
43.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2SAR 365
$111€96.9
-12.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9SAR 337
$125€109
-28.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243SAR 912
$1,707€1,487
-85.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344SAR 1,292
$1,286€1,120
-73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366SAR 1,374
$2,565€2,235
-85.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540SAR 2,030
$1,942€1,692
-72.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,363SAR 8,874
$7,647€6,662
-69.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,352SAR 5,076
$5,167€4,501
-73.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,084SAR 4,070
$2,348€2,046
-53.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
3.16
73.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ha'il: September 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Ha'il and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 117% 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: $38.00 in Ha'il vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $336 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 in Barcelona?
Ha'il and Barcelona differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($1,011 vs $2,476 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, salaries run 117% 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 Ha'il and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Ha'il versus $1,707 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 $349 in Ha'il versus $997 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 88% 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 $1,011 in Ha'il versus $2,476 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 145% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.