🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $568 in Jijel versus $2,336 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $912 in Jijel versus $3,475 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,255 in Jijel versus $4,614 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Jijel costs roughly 76% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jijel is 58% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.48DZD 328
$17.45€14.88
-85.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.24DZD 3,076
$69.8€59.6
-66.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58DZD 606
$13.91€11.86
-67.07%
Cappuccino
$0.98DZD 130
$2.74€2.34
-64.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60DZD 79.5
$2.70€2.30
-77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.46
$2.03€1.73
-88.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93DZD 256
$4.51€3.85
-57.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42DZD 320
$4.61€3.93
-47.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90DZD 119
$1.28€1.09
-29.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.06
$2.10€1.79
-93.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42DZD 187
$1.99€1.70
-28.64%
Eggs
$1.79DZD 237
$3.45€2.95
-48.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.84DZD 1,170
$18.61€15.87
-52.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.40DZD 583
$9.41€8.03
-53.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.38DZD 1,638
$18.70€15.95
-33.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16DZD 418
$2.61€2.22
21.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86DZD 379
$2.39€2.04
19.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42DZD 188
$2.19€1.86
-35.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70DZD 92.5
$2.81€2.40
-75.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57DZD 75.9
$2.03€1.73
-71.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35DZD 46.88
$1.87€1.60
-81.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42DZD 55.9
$1.45€1.24
-71.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.88
$0.92€0.79
-67.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49DZD 330
$6.82€5.82
-63.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.14DZD 945
$7.71€6.58
-7.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35DZD 179
$1.38€1.18
-2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DZD 285
$2.33€1.99
-7.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22DZD 28.99
$2.88€2.46
-92.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.34DZD 2,294
$29.04€24.77
-40.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.9
$4.43€3.78
-84.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.20DZD 26.45
$2.14€1.82
-90.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60DZD 741
$28.96€24.71
-80.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 47.84
$1.90€1.62
-81.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
$37.9K€32.3K
-4.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
$33.3K€28.4K
1.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.82DZD 5,269
$186€158
-78.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.04DZD 932
$22.17€18.91
-68.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.01DZD 2,384
$36.52€31.15
-50.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.32DZD 2,292
$58.4€49.81
-70.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.75€17.70
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.13DZD 811
$11.10€9.47
-44.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$87.1DZD 11.5K
$705€601
-87.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,411DZD 186.7K
$15.2K€13.0K
-90.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.79DZD 4,868
$86.4€73.7
-57.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24DZD 4,531
$36.88€31.46
-7.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.8DZD 8,442
$104€88.8
-38.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6DZD 8,947
$115€98.4
-41.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202DZD 26.7K
$1,538€1,312
-86.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125DZD 16.5K
$1,242€1,060
-89.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274DZD 36.2K
$2,728€2,327
-89.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184DZD 24.4K
$2,011€1,716
-90.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$804DZD 106.4K
$7,155€6,104
-88.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$424DZD 56.1K
$4,843€4,131
-91.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jijel
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$259DZD 34.3K
$2,474€2,111
-89.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
3.39
59.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jijel: April 21, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Jijel and $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 854% 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: $23 in Jijel vs $70 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $318 per month, with Jijel 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
Jijel vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jijel and Barcelona?
Jijel and Barcelona differ by about 311% in total monthly costs ($568 vs $2,336 including rent). Jijel 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 854% 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 Jijel and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $202 in Jijel versus $1,538 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 Jijel and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $87.1 in Jijel versus $705 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 73% 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 $568 in Jijel versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jijel but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jijel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jijel 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 Jijel or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jijel 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: Jijel or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Jijel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 311% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.