🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Rabigh versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Rabigh versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,372 in Rabigh versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Rabigh costs roughly 56% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rabigh is 21% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63SAR 24.91
$18.42€15.88
-64.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0SAR 203
$69.4€59.8
-22.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49SAR 31.87
$14.05€12.11
-39.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52SAR 9.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SAR 9.72
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.70SAR 13.91
$3.11€2.68
18.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04SAR 3.89
$2.96€2.55
-64.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24SAR 0.90
$1.95€1.69
-87.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.99€3.44
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62€3.98
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SAR 6.57
$1.32€1.14
32.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$2.11€1.82
-39.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23SAR 8.38
$1.83€1.57
21.86%
Eggs
$2.40SAR 9.01
$5.16€4.45
-53.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.27SAR 23.56
$17.56€15.14
-64.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.03SAR 30.15
$9.50€8.19
-15.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.15SAR 49.40
$19.93€17.18
-34.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03SAR 7.63
$3.17€2.73
-35.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69SAR 6.33
$2.21€1.91
-23.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$2.61€2.25
-39.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.10
$2.85€2.46
-43.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12SAR 4.21
$2.17€1.87
-48.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$2.11€1.81
-36.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07SAR 4.02
$1.62€1.39
-33.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50SAR 1.89
$0.88€0.76
-43.18%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.21SAR 15.82
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SAR 6.95
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60SAR 9.78
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52SAR 24.48
$7.17€6.18
-9.07%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.33€7.18
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.50€1.29
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75€2.37
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00SAR 3.77
$3.14€2.70
-68.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.97SAR 116
$26.25€22.63
17.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16SAR 11.86
$3.22€2.78
-1.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69SAR 6.34
$1.51€1.30
11.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.67SAR 51.4
$35.26€30.39
-61.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$1.75€1.51
-63.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.0KSAR 180.2K
$36.7K€31.6K
30.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KSAR 81.8K
$31.7K€27.3K
-31.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SAR 376
$187€161
-46.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.76SAR 146
$15.10€13.01
156.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2SAR 252
$37.60€32.41
78.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.9SAR 300
$55.5€47.83
43.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.10SAR 121
$16.74€14.43
91.76%
Cinema Ticket
$12.12SAR 45.50
$11.71€10.09
3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$730SAR 2,740
$1,011€871
-27.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2KSAR 60.7K
$17.1K€14.7K
-5.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9SAR 259
$91.4€78.8
-24.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1SAR 222
$41.00€35.34
44.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8SAR 364
$111€95.3
-12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1SAR 368
$126€109
-22.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327SAR 1,227
$1,704€1,469
-80.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240SAR 902
$1,299€1,120
-81.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609SAR 2,287
$2,588€2,231
-76.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424SAR 1,592
$1,929€1,663
-78.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,584SAR 9,704
$7,732€6,665
-66.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,180SAR 4,430
$5,384€4,641
-78.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabigh
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,374€2,046
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.39
3.16
70.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rabigh: September 5, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $327 in Rabigh and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Rabigh vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $333 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 in Barcelona?
Rabigh and Barcelona differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($1,090 vs $2,482 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 $1,635 in Rabigh and $3,724 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $327 in Rabigh versus $1,704 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 $730 in Rabigh versus $1,011 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 68% 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 $1,090 in Rabigh versus $2,482 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 128% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.