🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,173 in Madinat Hamad versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,899 in Madinat Hamad versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,625 in Madinat Hamad versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Madinat Hamad costs roughly 50% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Madinat Hamad is 12% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71BHD 1.02
$17.61€15.04
-84.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8BHD 19.87
$68.7€58.7
-23.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.33BHD 2.75
$13.75€11.74
-46.69%
Cappuccino
$2.62BHD 0.98
$2.76€2.36
-5.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81BHD 0.30
$2.78€2.38
-70.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37BHD 0.14
$2.05€1.75
-81.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.82BHD 2.94
$4.61€3.93
69.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.70BHD 4.02
$4.59€3.92
133.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55BHD 0.58
$1.28€1.09
21.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08BHD 0.40
$2.11€1.80
-48.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39BHD 0.90
$1.97€1.68
21.32%
Eggs
$1.98BHD 0.74
$3.44€2.94
-42.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.46BHD 3.18
$18.83€16.08
-55.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.53BHD 2.83
$9.45€8.07
-20.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.29BHD 3.87
$19.01€16.24
-45.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16BHD 0.81
$2.72€2.32
-20.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62BHD 0.61
$2.37€2.03
-31.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75BHD 0.66
$2.08€1.77
-15.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21BHD 0.45
$2.76€2.36
-56.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93BHD 0.35
$1.97€1.68
-52.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03BHD 0.39
$1.79€1.53
-42.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52BHD 0.57
$1.51€1.29
0.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55BHD 0.21
$0.90€0.77
-38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77BHD 2.54
$6.76€5.77
0.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42BHD 6.93
$7.55€6.44
143.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32BHD 1.25
$1.44€1.23
130.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32BHD 1.25
$2.41€2.06
37.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63BHD 0.24
$3.03€2.59
-79.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.92BHD 13.13
$28.39€24.25
23.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55BHD 1.71
$4.43€3.78
2.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.39BHD 1.28
$2.05€1.75
65.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.32BHD 9.89
$29.33€25.05
-10.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36BHD 0.13
$1.89€1.61
-80.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KBHD 14.0K
$38.7K€33.1K
-3.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KBHD 7,782
$32.4K€27.6K
-36.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120BHD 44.97
$189€161
-36.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.99BHD 9.02
$22.21€18.96
8.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.72BHD 7.04
$36.82€31.44
-49.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$118BHD 44.45
$58.0€49.52
103.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.0BHD 19.54
$20.99€17.93
147.64%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37BHD 2.02
$11.05€9.44
-51.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$387BHD 145
$726€620
-46.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,985BHD 3,378
$15.2K€13.0K
-40.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.29BHD 17.41
$88.3€75.4
-47.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6BHD 23.54
$36.98€31.58
69.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.9BHD 30.79
$103€87.6
-20.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4BHD 33.25
$119€102
-25.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$402BHD 151
$1,526€1,304
-73.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320BHD 120
$1,218€1,040
-73.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$809BHD 304
$2,794€2,386
-71.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652BHD 245
$2,027€1,731
-67.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,094€6,058
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,849€4,141
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madinat Hamad
Barcelona
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$661BHD 249
$2,404€2,053
-72.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
3.39
152.51%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Madinat Hamad: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Madinat Hamad and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 263% 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: $53.0 in Madinat Hamad vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $320 per month, with Madinat Hamad cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Madinat Hamad vs Barcelona: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Madinat Hamad and Barcelona?
Madinat Hamad and Barcelona differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,173 vs $2,341 including rent). Madinat Hamad 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 263% 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 Madinat Hamad and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $402 in Madinat Hamad 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 Madinat Hamad and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $387 in Madinat Hamad 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 29% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,173 in Madinat Hamad versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madinat Hamad but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Madinat Hamad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Madinat Hamad 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 Madinat Hamad or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Madinat Hamad 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: Madinat Hamad or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Madinat Hamad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Madinat Hamad vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado