🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,148 in Rabigh versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,667 in Rabigh versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Rabigh versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Rabigh costs roughly 51% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rabigh is 15% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90SAR 14.63
$17.08€14.72
-77.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.09SAR 79.1
$69.2€59.7
-69.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.15SAR 26.82
$13.78€11.87
-48.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31SAR 4.93
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.87
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.42SAR 9.06
$2.76€2.37
-12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64SAR 2.39
$2.79€2.40
-77.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11SAR 0.42
$1.99€1.72
-94.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.36€3.76
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74€4.09
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$1.29€1.11
0.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$2.05€1.77
-86.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34SAR 8.77
$1.99€1.71
17.59%
Eggs
$2.22SAR 8.32
$3.39€2.92
-34.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.48SAR 20.56
$18.81€16.21
-70.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94SAR 18.55
$9.36€8.07
-47.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.57SAR 47.16
$19.12€16.48
-34.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18SAR 8.17
$2.70€2.32
-19.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.00
$2.34€2.02
-31.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$2.12€1.83
-25.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.87
$2.85€2.46
-54.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.98
$1.97€1.70
-32.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.70
$1.80€1.55
-30.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09SAR 4.10
$1.45€1.25
-24.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56SAR 2.09
$0.86€0.74
-34.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.14SAR 15.53
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87SAR 7.00
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52SAR 9.45
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72SAR 10.21
$6.78€5.84
-59.88%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90€6.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39€1.20
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37€2.04
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.93
$2.92€2.52
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.05SAR 150
$28.69€24.72
39.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29SAR 12.36
$4.46€3.84
-26.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$2.05€1.77
-11.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.02SAR 56.4
$29.55€25.46
-49.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.23
$1.82€1.56
-67.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1KSAR 101.6K
$38.8K€33.5K
-30.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KSAR 82.8K
$33.1K€28.5K
-33.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107SAR 402
$189€163
-43.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.50SAR 122
$22.80€19.65
42.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0SAR 259
$37.59€32.39
83.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.0SAR 326
$57.7€49.75
50.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.38SAR 133
$20.74€17.87
70.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.54SAR 50.8
$10.82€9.33
25.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$401SAR 1,504
$728€628
-44.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,411SAR 24.1K
$14.8K€12.7K
-56.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6SAR 239
$88.6€76.4
-28.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4SAR 219
$36.85€31.75
58.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5SAR 351
$102€87.9
-8.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9SAR 311
$116€100
-28.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282SAR 1,059
$1,569€1,352
-82.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382SAR 1,434
$1,218€1,050
-68.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$523SAR 1,962
$2,795€2,409
-81.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620SAR 2,326
$1,975€1,702
-68.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,005SAR 7,525
$7,754€6,680
-74.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394SAR 5,231
$5,176€4,460
-73.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,343€2,019
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Rabigh and $1,569 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 $319 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 104% in total monthly costs ($1,148 vs $2,337 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 $1,722 in Rabigh and $3,505 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: $282 in Rabigh versus $1,569 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 $401 in Rabigh versus $728 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 $1,148 in Rabigh versus $2,337 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 104% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.