🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $123 in Laayoune versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $178 in Laayoune versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $232 in Laayoune versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Laayoune costs roughly 95% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Laayoune is 91% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.16MAD 39.57
$18.74€16.31
-77.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$69.5€60.5
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.50MAD 33.28
$13.77€11.98
-74.58%
Cappuccino
$2.13MAD 20.24
$3.10€2.70
-31.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.18
$2.83€2.46
-84.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.16
$1.88€1.64
-82.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.98€3.47
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.53€3.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.27€1.11
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.16€1.88
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.76€1.53
-
Eggs
-
$5.13€4.46
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$17.88€15.56
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$9.65€8.40
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$20.15€17.54
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.25€2.83
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.23€1.94
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.60€2.26
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.76€2.40
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.21€1.92
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.12€1.84
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.55€1.35
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.95€0.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.34€6.39
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.05€7.00
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.54€1.34
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.79€2.43
-
🚌 Getting Around
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70MAD 6.69
$3.11€2.70
-77.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.86€22.51
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77MAD 7.36
$3.27€2.85
-76.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70MAD 6.71
$1.48€1.29
-52.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$34.27€29.83
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MAD 13.17
$1.73€1.50
-20.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$36.4K€31.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$30.5K€26.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$187€163
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$15.14€13.18
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.33MAD 203
$37.69€32.80
-43.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$55.9€48.68
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.08€14.87
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.41€9.93
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$997€867
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.5K€14.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.06MAD 448
$92.6€80.6
-49.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.22€35.88
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$111€96.8
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$125€109
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,707€1,486
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,286€1,119
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,565€2,233
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,942€1,690
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,647€6,655
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,167€4,497
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laayoune
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,348€2,044
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.16
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laayoune: September 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
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
Laayoune vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Laayoune and in Barcelona?
Laayoune and Barcelona differ by about 1919% in total monthly costs ($123 vs $2,476 including rent). Laayoune is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Laayoune compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $184 in Laayoune and $3,714 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $123 in Laayoune versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Laayoune but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Laayoune the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Laayoune 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 Laayoune or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Laayoune 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: Laayoune or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Laayoune gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1919% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.