🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Sakakah versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,662 in Sakakah versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,128 in Sakakah versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Sakakah costs roughly 49% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sakakah is 11% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.02SAR 22.58
$17.08€14.72
-64.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.16SAR 166
$69.2€59.7
-36.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81SAR 29.31
$13.78€11.87
-43.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08SAR 7.79
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57SAR 5.89
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.55SAR 13.33
$2.76€2.37
28.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$2.79€2.40
-77.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34SAR 1.28
$1.99€1.72
-82.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.36€3.76
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74€4.09
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.21
$1.29€1.11
28.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.80
$2.05€1.77
-50.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40SAR 9.00
$1.99€1.71
20.60%
Eggs
$2.45SAR 9.19
$3.39€2.92
-27.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.68SAR 25.08
$18.81€16.21
-64.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.55SAR 28.33
$9.36€8.07
-19.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22SAR 49.59
$19.12€16.48
-30.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17SAR 8.15
$2.70€2.32
-19.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$2.34€2.02
-30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.53
$2.12€1.83
-17.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.84
$2.85€2.46
-45.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.97€1.70
-35.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$1.80€1.55
-28.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24SAR 4.67
$1.45€1.25
-14.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$0.86€0.74
-36.05%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.64SAR 9.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75SAR 6.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SAR 7.89
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81SAR 25.55
$6.78€5.84
0.44%
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
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.09
$2.92€2.52
-62.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.20SAR 147
$28.69€24.72
36.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67SAR 10.03
$4.46€3.84
-40.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.19
$2.05€1.77
-6.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.16SAR 49.39
$29.55€25.46
-55.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57SAR 2.15
$1.82€1.56
-68.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KSAR 100.1K
$38.8K€33.5K
-31.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KSAR 84.4K
$33.1K€28.5K
-32.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105SAR 393
$189€163
-44.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95SAR 127
$22.80€19.65
48.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6SAR 272
$37.59€32.39
93.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.7SAR 224
$57.7€49.75
3.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.94SAR 131
$20.74€17.87
68.47%
Cinema Ticket
$15.79SAR 59.3
$10.82€9.33
45.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355SAR 1,332
$728€628
-51.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,103SAR 26.7K
$14.8K€12.7K
-51.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7SAR 220
$88.6€76.4
-33.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3SAR 226
$36.85€31.75
63.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0SAR 293
$102€87.9
-23.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3SAR 309
$116€100
-29.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222SAR 835
$1,569€1,352
-85.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377SAR 1,414
$1,218€1,050
-69.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$342SAR 1,285
$2,795€2,409
-87.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310SAR 1,163
$1,975€1,702
-84.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,343SAR 8,794
$7,754€6,680
-69.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358SAR 5,097
$5,176€4,460
-73.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sakakah
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$931SAR 3,495
$2,343€2,019
-60.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.39
30.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sakakah: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Sakakah and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 152% 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: $44.00 in Sakakah vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $319 per month, with Sakakah 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
Sakakah vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sakakah and Barcelona?
Sakakah and Barcelona differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $2,337 including rent). Sakakah 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 152% 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 Sakakah and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Sakakah 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 Sakakah and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $355 in Sakakah 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 62% 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 $1,197 in Sakakah versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sakakah but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sakakah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sakakah 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 Sakakah or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sakakah 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: Sakakah or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Sakakah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.