πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $208 in Sebha versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $288 in Sebha versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $367 in Sebha versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Sebha costs roughly 91% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Sebha is 85% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$17.08β¬14.72
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$69.2β¬59.7
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$13.78β¬11.87
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.76β¬2.37
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.79β¬2.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.99β¬1.72
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.36β¬3.76
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74β¬4.09
-
π Groceries & Markets
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91LYDΒ 5.80
$1.29β¬1.11
-29.46%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.05β¬1.77
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82LYDΒ 5.24
$1.99β¬1.71
-58.79%
Eggs
$1.35LYDΒ 8.60
$3.39β¬2.92
-60.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$18.81β¬16.21
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$9.36β¬8.07
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.58LYDΒ 54.6
$19.12β¬16.48
-55.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96LYDΒ 12.45
$2.70β¬2.32
-27.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32LYDΒ 8.40
$2.34β¬2.02
-43.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92LYDΒ 5.87
$2.12β¬1.83
-56.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49LYDΒ 3.09
$2.85β¬2.46
-82.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49LYDΒ 3.09
$1.97β¬1.70
-75.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48LYDΒ 3.05
$1.80β¬1.55
-73.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.45β¬1.25
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31LYDΒ 2.00
$0.86β¬0.74
-63.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.78β¬5.84
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90β¬6.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39β¬1.20
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37β¬2.04
-
π Getting Around
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.92β¬2.52
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.69β¬24.72
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.46β¬3.84
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03LYDΒ 6.55
$2.05β¬1.77
-49.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$29.55β¬25.46
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYDΒ 0.20
$1.82β¬1.56
-98.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$38.8Kβ¬33.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.1Kβ¬28.5K
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.96LYDΒ 159
$189β¬163
-86.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.80β¬19.65
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$37.59β¬32.39
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.11LYDΒ 51.6
$57.7β¬49.75
-85.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74β¬17.87
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.82β¬9.33
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$728β¬628
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8Kβ¬12.7K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$88.6β¬76.4
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.85β¬31.75
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$102β¬87.9
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$116β¬100
-
π Accommodation & Living
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$141LYDΒ 899
$1,569β¬1,352
-90.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101LYDΒ 642
$1,218β¬1,050
-91.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198LYDΒ 1,260
$2,795β¬2,409
-92.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$119LYDΒ 759
$1,975β¬1,702
-93.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754β¬6,680
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176β¬4,460
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Sebha
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,343β¬2,019
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.39
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sebha: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $141 in Sebha and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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
Sebha vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sebha and Barcelona?
Sebha and Barcelona differ by about 1024% in total monthly costs ($208 vs $2,337 including rent). Sebha is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sebha compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $312 in Sebha 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 Sebha and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $141 in Sebha versus $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 333% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sebha or Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $208 per month in Sebha versus $2,337 in Barcelona β a 1024% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $208 in Sebha versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sebha but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sebha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sebha and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Sebha or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sebha 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: Sebha or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Sebha gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1024% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.