🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,163 in Rabigh versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,703 in Rabigh versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,243 in Rabigh versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Rabigh costs roughly 50% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rabigh is 13% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.10SAR 15.36
$17.61€15.04
-76.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.94SAR 78.5
$68.7€58.7
-69.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16SAR 26.84
$13.75€11.74
-47.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35SAR 5.07
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83SAR 3.10
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.47SAR 9.26
$2.76€2.36
-10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69SAR 2.57
$2.78€2.38
-75.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12SAR 0.46
$2.05€1.75
-94.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.61€3.93
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.59€3.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37SAR 5.13
$1.28€1.09
7.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$2.11€1.80
-86.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31SAR 8.65
$1.97€1.68
17.26%
Eggs
$2.21SAR 8.29
$3.44€2.94
-35.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.49SAR 20.57
$18.83€16.08
-70.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83SAR 18.11
$9.45€8.07
-48.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.63SAR 47.36
$19.01€16.24
-33.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.12
$2.72€2.32
-20.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.91
$2.37€2.03
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$2.08€1.77
-22.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$2.76€2.36
-52.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.96
$1.97€1.68
-32.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.65
$1.79€1.53
-30.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06SAR 3.96
$1.51€1.29
-29.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.23
$0.90€0.77
-33.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.08SAR 15.29
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95SAR 7.29
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SAR 9.39
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60SAR 9.75
$6.76€5.77
-61.54%
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
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.11
$3.03€2.59
-63.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.46SAR 148
$28.39€24.25
38.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19SAR 11.96
$4.43€3.78
-27.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.12
$2.05€1.75
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.28SAR 57.3
$29.33€25.05
-47.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.37
$1.89€1.61
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KSAR 99.1K
$38.7K€33.1K
-31.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KSAR 81.3K
$32.4K€27.6K
-32.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$189€161
-44.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.74SAR 119
$22.21€18.96
42.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4SAR 260
$36.82€31.44
88.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.3SAR 335
$58.0€49.52
54.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.21SAR 132
$20.99€17.93
67.75%
Cinema Ticket
$13.26SAR 49.72
$11.05€9.44
20.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$408SAR 1,531
$726€620
-43.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,568SAR 24.6K
$15.2K€13.0K
-56.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9SAR 240
$88.3€75.4
-27.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7SAR 216
$36.98€31.58
55.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2SAR 357
$103€87.6
-7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3SAR 309
$119€102
-30.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278SAR 1,041
$1,526€1,304
-81.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383SAR 1,437
$1,218€1,040
-68.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$531SAR 1,990
$2,794€2,386
-81.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626SAR 2,347
$2,027€1,731
-69.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,387SAR 8,952
$7,094€6,058
-66.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,325SAR 4,969
$4,849€4,141
-72.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,404€2,053
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
3.39
32.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rabigh: April 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Rabigh and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Rabigh vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $320 per month, with Rabigh 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
Rabigh vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rabigh and Barcelona?
Rabigh and Barcelona differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($1,163 vs $2,341 including rent). Rabigh is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rabigh compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,745 in Rabigh and $3,512 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Rabigh and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Rabigh 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 Rabigh and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $408 in Rabigh 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 95% 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 $1,163 in Rabigh versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rabigh 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 Rabigh or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rabigh 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: Rabigh or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Rabigh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.