Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $914 in Sanaa versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Sanaa versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,006 in Sanaa versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Sanaa costs roughly 61% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 32% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.33 YER 1,499
$17.66 €15.45
-64.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96 YER 5,433
$69.7 €61.0
-67.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 YER 2,479
$14.16 €12.39
-26.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 YER 417
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 YER 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.69 YER 873
$2.80 €2.45
31.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 YER 274
$2.81 €2.46
-58.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 YER 111
$2.06 €1.81
-77.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.60 €4.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.69 €4.10
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 YER 446
$1.23 €1.08
52.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 YER 289
$2.03 €1.78
-39.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 YER 588
$1.98 €1.73
25.25%
Eggs
$4.03 YER 953
$3.49 €3.05
15.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 YER 2,337
$18.33 €16.04
-46.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 YER 1,582
$9.83 €8.60
-31.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.58 YER 4,397
$19.13 €16.73
-2.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 YER 912
$2.73 €2.38
41.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 YER 329
$2.38 €2.09
-41.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 YER 566
$2.08 €1.82
14.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 YER 389
$2.75 €2.41
-40.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 YER 424
$1.96 €1.72
-8.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 YER 384
$1.79 €1.57
-9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 YER 149
$1.48 €1.29
-57.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 YER 172
$0.91 €0.80
-19.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.38 YER 800
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 YER 395
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 YER 775
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 YER 958
$7.13 €6.24
-43.20%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.88 €6.89
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 €1.21
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.39 €2.09
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 YER 101
$3.01 €2.63
-86.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 YER 19.4K
$29.35 €25.68
178.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 YER 982
$4.36 €3.82
-4.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.03 YER 953
$2.13 €1.86
89.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.02 YER 1,661
$29.60 €25.90
-76.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.74 YER 648
$1.82 €1.59
50.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K YER 3.9M
$37.9K €33.1K
-56.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K YER 8.0M
$32.4K €28.3K
4.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.5 YER 16.9K
$189 €165
-62.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56 YER 3,209
$22.29 €19.50
-39.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.21 YER 9,042
$37.16 €32.51
2.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.4 YER 16.0K
$58.0 €50.8
16.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.43 YER 3,889
$20.66 €18.08
-20.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89 YER 1,394
$10.87 €9.51
-45.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 YER 26.6K
$706 €618
-84.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,809 YER 428.2K
$14.9K €13.0K
-87.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.44 YER 9,336
$89.4 €78.3
-55.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$147 YER 34.8K
$36.60 €32.02
301.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.85 YER 9,668
$104 €91.0
-60.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.77 YER 9,885
$119 €104
-65.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$166 YER 39.4K
$1,579 €1,381
-89.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.4 YER 22.6K
$1,238 €1,083
-92.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 YER 95.4K
$2,712 €2,373
-85.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 YER 61.7K
$2,039 €1,784
-87.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,070 YER 963.3K
$7,527 €6,585
-45.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$808 YER 191.1K
$5,239 €4,584
-84.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$190 YER 45.0K
$2,364 €2,068
-91.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
3.39
231.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sanaa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Sanaa and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 1142% 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: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $320 per month, with Sanaa 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
Sanaa vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sanaa and in Barcelona?
Sanaa and Barcelona differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($914 vs $2,320 including rent). Sanaa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1142% lower in Barcelona. 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 Sanaa and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $166 in Sanaa versus $1,579 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 Sanaa and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $112 in Sanaa versus $706 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 33% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $914 in Sanaa versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sanaa 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 Sanaa or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sanaa 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: Sanaa or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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