🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,136 in Lusail versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,514 in Lusail versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,891 in Lusail versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Lusail costs roughly 9% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lusail60% above, Barcelona75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71QAR 24.44
$17.61€15.04
-61.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1QAR 204
$68.7€58.7
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.68QAR 24.32
$13.75€11.74
-51.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.59QAR 42.19
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.07QAR 40.29
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.95QAR 18.03
$2.76€2.36
79.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80QAR 2.90
$2.78€2.38
-71.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33QAR 1.21
$2.05€1.75
-83.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.61€3.93
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.59€3.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14QAR 7.80
$1.28€1.09
67.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61QAR 5.85
$2.11€1.80
-23.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36QAR 4.94
$1.97€1.68
-30.96%
Eggs
$2.68QAR 9.74
$3.44€2.94
-22.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.63QAR 42.33
$18.83€16.08
-38.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91QAR 28.79
$9.45€8.07
-16.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.52QAR 38.31
$19.01€16.24
-44.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00QAR 7.29
$2.72€2.32
-26.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64QAR 5.97
$2.37€2.03
-30.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53QAR 5.56
$2.08€1.77
-26.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54QAR 1.96
$2.76€2.36
-80.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52QAR 1.91
$1.97€1.68
-73.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56QAR 2.05
$1.79€1.53
-68.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37QAR 5.00
$1.51€1.29
-9.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46QAR 1.66
$0.90€0.77
-48.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$9.76QAR 35.52
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83QAR 6.66
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99QAR 10.89
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48QAR 23.60
$6.76€5.77
-4.14%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.55€6.44
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.44€1.23
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.41€2.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$3.03€2.59
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.25
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.17QAR 7.89
$4.43€3.78
-51.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20QAR 8.02
$2.05€1.75
7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.47QAR 49.02
$29.33€25.05
-54.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.55QAR 1.98
$1.89€1.61
-70.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KQAR 82.9K
$38.7K€33.1K
-41.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KQAR 75.4K
$32.4K€27.6K
-36.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.0QAR 331
$189€161
-51.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.13QAR 139
$22.21€18.96
71.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.7QAR 315
$36.82€31.44
135.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$58.0€49.52
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.13QAR 44.17
$11.05€9.44
9.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$801QAR 2,917
$726€620
10.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KQAR 42.9K
$15.2K€13.0K
-22.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6QAR 224
$88.3€75.4
-30.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3QAR 205
$36.98€31.58
52.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102QAR 370
$103€87.6
-0.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6QAR 333
$119€102
-23.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,069QAR 7,530
$1,526€1,304
35.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,347QAR 4,903
$1,218€1,040
10.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,731QAR 17.2K
$2,794€2,386
69.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,359QAR 12.2K
$2,027€1,731
65.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,094€6,058
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,849€4,141
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusail
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,352QAR 4,922
$2,404€2,053
-43.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
3.39
79.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lusail: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,069 in Lusail and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 78% 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: $56.0 in Lusail vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $320 per month, with Lusail 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
Lusail vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lusail and Barcelona?
Lusail and Barcelona differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,136 vs $2,341 including rent). Lusail 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 78% 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 Lusail and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,069 in Lusail 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 Lusail and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $801 in Lusail 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 restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lusail – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,136 in Lusail versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lusail but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Lusail the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lusail 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 Lusail or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lusail 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: Lusail or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Lusail gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.