🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in Settat versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Settat versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,577 in Settat versus $4,563 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 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25MAD 30.05
$17.58€15.25
-81.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.41MAD 309
$68.4€59.4
-51.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23MAD 66.8
$14.06€12.19
-48.58%
Cappuccino
$1.19MAD 10.99
$2.78€2.41
-57.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.10
$2.80€2.43
-84.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.02
$2.06€1.79
-83.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29MAD 11.94
$4.46€3.87
-71.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65MAD 15.26
$4.61€4.00
-64.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90MAD 8.28
$1.24€1.08
-27.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59MAD 5.42
$2.03€1.76
-70.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78MAD 16.43
$1.92€1.67
-7.29%
Eggs
$2.00MAD 18.47
$3.31€2.87
-39.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.68MAD 89.4
$18.43€15.99
-47.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.13MAD 56.7
$9.49€8.23
-35.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09MAD 102
$19.16€16.62
-42.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52MAD 14.06
$2.64€2.29
-42.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MAD 12.83
$2.45€2.12
-43.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.30
$2.12€1.84
-57.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88MAD 8.12
$2.85€2.47
-69.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.35
$2.04€1.77
-60.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.84
$1.85€1.61
-60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$1.47€1.28
-71.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.48
$0.84€0.73
-29.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36MAD 40.25
$7.14€6.20
-38.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06MAD 74.5
$7.88€6.84
2.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.02
$1.38€1.20
96.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94MAD 27.19
$2.31€2.00
27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MAD 3.94
$2.98€2.59
-85.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.21MAD 150
$29.26€25.38
-44.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80MAD 7.42
$4.60€3.99
-82.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51MAD 4.73
$2.07€1.79
-75.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MAD 50.4
$29.18€25.31
-81.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.16
$1.84€1.60
-16.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9KMAD 340.4K
$39.0K€33.8K
-5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KMAD 274.0K
$32.7K€28.4K
-9.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.57MAD 199
$188€163
-88.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.42MAD 50.1
$22.93€19.90
-76.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.19MAD 417
$36.71€31.85
23.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.06MAD 176
$57.4€49.77
-66.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.03MAD 213
$20.70€17.95
11.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66MAD 61.5
$11.19€9.71
-40.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115MAD 1,060
$721€625
-84.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,295MAD 58.2K
$15.0K€13.1K
-58.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.80MAD 395
$86.2€74.8
-50.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4MAD 465
$37.07€32.16
35.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 992
$102€88.5
5.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103MAD 951
$116€101
-11.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275MAD 2,542
$1,534€1,330
-82.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,590
$1,220€1,059
-85.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513MAD 4,738
$2,696€2,338
-80.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301MAD 2,784
$2,013€1,746
-85.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,220€6,264
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,189€4,501
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$220MAD 2,036
$2,359€2,047
-90.66%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Settat and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 970% 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: $33.00 in Settat vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $318 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 237% in total monthly costs ($701 vs $2,367 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 970% 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: $275 in Settat versus $1,534 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 $115 in Settat versus $721 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 63% 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 $701 in Settat versus $2,367 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 237% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.