Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in Sfax versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Sfax versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,360 in Sfax versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Sfax costs roughly 74% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sfax is 55% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 TND 9.85
$17.66 €15.46
-80.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.38 TND 59.6
$69.7 €61.0
-70.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 TND 9.67
$14.16 €12.40
-76.69%
Cappuccino
$0.78 TND 2.27
$2.80 €2.45
-72.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TND 1.89
$2.81 €2.46
-77.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$2.06 €1.81
-87.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 TND 4.55
$4.60 €4.03
-66.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.61
$4.69 €4.11
-59.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.53 TND 1.56
$1.23 €1.08
-56.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.16 TND 0.46
$2.03 €1.78
-92.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 TND 4.38
$1.98 €1.73
-24.24%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.63
$3.49 €3.05
-54.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 TND 32.62
$18.33 €16.05
-39.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 TND 16.84
$9.83 €8.61
-41.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 TND 38.88
$19.13 €16.75
-30.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 TND 6.53
$2.73 €2.39
-18.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 TND 8.64
$2.38 €2.09
23.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 3.08
$2.08 €1.82
-49.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.03
$2.75 €2.41
-74.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.35
$1.96 €1.72
-59.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 TND 2.25
$1.79 €1.57
-56.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 TND 1.50
$1.48 €1.29
-65.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.91 €0.80
-65.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60 TND 10.55
$7.13 €6.25
-49.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.65 TND 19.46
$7.88 €6.90
-15.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.22
$1.38 €1.21
-20.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 3.08
$2.39 €2.09
-56.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 TND 0.61
$3.01 €2.64
-93.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.10 TND 29.56
$29.35 €25.71
-65.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$4.36 €3.82
-92.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$2.13 €1.86
-84.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.59 TND 22.22
$29.60 €25.93
-74.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.40
$1.82 €1.60
-54.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.2K
$37.9K €33.2K
-4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 102.5K
$32.4K €28.4K
8.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.93 TND 134
$189 €166
-75.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 TND 27.57
$22.29 €19.52
-57.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.56 TND 42.61
$37.16 €32.55
-60.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.04 TND 79.1
$58.0 €50.8
-53.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 TND 21.92
$20.66 €18.09
-63.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67 TND 13.68
$10.87 €9.52
-57.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 322
$706 €618
-84.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,482 TND 7,262
$14.9K €13.0K
-83.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.06 TND 129
$89.4 €78.3
-50.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10 TND 129
$36.60 €32.06
20.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 297
$104 €91.1
-2.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1 TND 190
$119 €105
-45.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$187 TND 546
$1,579 €1,383
-88.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 TND 391
$1,238 €1,084
-89.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 TND 984
$2,712 €2,375
-87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 TND 729
$2,039 €1,786
-87.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,017 TND 2,977
$7,527 €6,592
-86.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$647 TND 1,893
$5,239 €4,588
-87.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$327 TND 957
$2,364 €2,070
-86.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
3.39
301.18%

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

Last update for Sfax: July 14, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Sfax and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 622% 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: $20.00 in Sfax vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $320 per month, with Sfax 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
Sfax vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sfax and in Barcelona?
Sfax and Barcelona differ by about 282% in total monthly costs ($607 vs $2,320 including rent). Sfax 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 622% 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 Sfax and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Sfax 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 Sfax and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $110 in Sfax 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 70% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $607 in Sfax versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfax but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sfax the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sfax 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 Sfax or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sfax 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: Sfax or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 282% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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