🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Settat versus $2,356 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Settat versus $3,455 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Settat versus $4,553 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Settat costs roughly 70% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Settat is 48% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36MAD 30.98
$17.64€15.01
-80.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.47MAD 309
$68.1€58.0
-50.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20MAD 66.5
$13.96€11.88
-48.42%
Cappuccino
$1.23MAD 11.38
$2.76€2.35
-55.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.38
$2.76€2.35
-82.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35MAD 3.25
$1.97€1.67
-82.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35MAD 12.47
$4.53€3.85
-70.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59MAD 14.69
$4.53€3.85
-64.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90MAD 8.31
$1.24€1.05
-27.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58MAD 5.37
$2.04€1.73
-71.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85MAD 17.03
$1.91€1.63
-3.14%
Eggs
$2.10MAD 19.37
$3.39€2.89
-38.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.63MAD 88.9
$18.34€15.60
-47.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01MAD 55.5
$9.39€7.99
-36.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24MAD 104
$18.90€16.08
-40.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56MAD 14.36
$2.63€2.23
-40.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MAD 12.72
$2.40€2.04
-42.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92MAD 8.46
$2.12€1.80
-56.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88MAD 8.17
$2.70€2.30
-67.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.79
$2.05€1.75
-63.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75MAD 6.96
$1.78€1.52
-57.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 3.96
$1.47€1.25
-70.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.51
$0.91€0.77
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43MAD 40.88
$7.01€5.97
-36.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02MAD 74.0
$7.59€6.46
5.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65MAD 24.45
$1.44€1.22
84.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98MAD 27.47
$2.32€1.97
28.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46MAD 4.23
$2.94€2.50
-84.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.29MAD 150
$29.38€25.00
-44.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74MAD 6.82
$4.53€3.85
-83.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.44
$2.14€1.82
-77.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MAD 49.99
$28.97€24.65
-81.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 14.01
$1.89€1.61
-19.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7KMAD 338.6K
$39.0K€33.2K
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMAD 272.9K
$32.4K€27.6K
-8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.63MAD 200
$189€161
-88.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.38MAD 49.70
$22.24€18.92
-75.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.18MAD 426
$36.57€31.12
26.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.07MAD 176
$58.0€49.38
-67.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.61MAD 218
$21.30€18.13
10.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69MAD 61.8
$11.01€9.37
-39.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112MAD 1,036
$731€622
-84.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,338MAD 58.5K
$14.8K€12.6K
-57.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.64MAD 394
$89.3€76.0
-52.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6MAD 467
$37.38€31.81
35.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 987
$105€89.0
2.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103MAD 954
$116€99.0
-11.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277MAD 2,558
$1,551€1,320
-82.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,598
$1,216€1,035
-85.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509MAD 4,698
$2,799€2,382
-81.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$306MAD 2,821
$2,008€1,709
-84.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,161€6,094
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,021€4,273
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$483MAD 4,456
$2,462€2,095
-80.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
3.39
40.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Settat: April 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Settat and $1,551 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 410% 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: $33 in Settat vs $68 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $316 per month, with Settat 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
Settat vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Settat and Barcelona?
Settat and Barcelona differ by about 234% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $2,356 including rent). Settat 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 410% 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 Settat and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Settat versus $1,551 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 Settat and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $112 in Settat versus $731 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 $1,000 per month?
At $706 in Settat versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Settat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Settat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Settat 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 Settat or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Settat 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: Settat or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Settat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 234% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.