For one person, living is cheaper in Spain: $1,775 a month against $1,909 in Qatar, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Qatar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Spain versus $1,909 in Qatar.
Spain $1,775
Qatar $1,909
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Spain versus $3,082 in Qatar.
Spain $2,606
Qatar $3,082
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Spain versus $4,256 in Qatar.
Spain $3,438
Qatar $4,256
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Qatar: monthly costs span $232 to $2,633, compared to $931–$2,610 in Spain. City choice carries more weight in Qatar.
🌍
Living in Spain costs about 7% less than in Qatar on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 30% above, Qatar 40% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.91
$8.27QAR 30.10
101.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.74
$67.4QAR 245
-17.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.15
$8.41QAR 30.63
35.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$13.24QAR 48.20
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$13.46QAR 48.98
-
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.16
$5.47QAR 19.93
-55.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.39
$0.91QAR 3.30
194.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$0.34QAR 1.26
426.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.06
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.46
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$2.16QAR 7.85
-44.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.33
$1.50QAR 5.47
-1.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.49
$2.05QAR 7.46
-18.54%
Eggs
$3.42€3.06
$3.05QAR 11.08
12.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.66
$9.50QAR 34.57
49.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.44
$7.61QAR 27.70
9.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.47
$10.03QAR 36.50
61.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.19
$2.12QAR 7.70
15.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$1.76QAR 6.41
15.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.86
$1.63QAR 5.94
27.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.30
$1.26QAR 4.57
104.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.63
$0.93QAR 3.37
96.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.79
$0.94QAR 3.41
112.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$1.20QAR 4.36
9.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$0.58QAR 2.12
32.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$10.39QAR 37.82
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.04QAR 7.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.03QAR 11.03
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.68
$6.47QAR 23.56
-1.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.04
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.16
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Qatar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$0.53QAR 1.93
209.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.39
$32.56QAR 119
1.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.95
$2.17QAR 7.90
104.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.31
$1.90QAR 6.92
-22.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.31
$8.44QAR 30.72
195.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.58
$0.54QAR 1.98
227.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.7K
$24.4KQAR 88.7K
45.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.3K
$21.5KQAR 78.3K
42.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€133
$90.0QAR 328
65.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.78
$44.05QAR 160
-59.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.47
$85.5QAR 311
-62.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.50
$167QAR 607
-73.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.66
$20.20QAR 73.5
-24.31%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.63
$12.13QAR 44.15
-20.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€486
$733QAR 2,669
-25.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,471
$9,778QAR 35.6K
8.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€75.8
$55.8QAR 203
52.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.14
$51.2QAR 186
-27.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€79.6
$95.3QAR 347
-6.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.4
$83.0QAR 302
27.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Qatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€943
$1,580QAR 5,753
-33.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€721
$957QAR 3,485
-15.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,447
$3,018QAR 11.0K
-46.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,113
$2,047QAR 7,450
-39.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,693
$4,338QAR 15.8K
-4.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,351
$2,959QAR 10.8K
-11.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Qatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,785
$4,017QAR 14.6K
-50.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
5.22
-36.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for Qatar: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808 45.5%
Qatar
$957 50.2% ↑ 18.5%$150
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
Qatar
$204 10.7% ↓ 24.9%$68
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
Qatar
$162 8.5% ↓ 32.3%$77
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
Qatar
$220 11.5% ↑ 10.4%$21
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
Qatar
$128 6.7% ↓ 10%$14
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
Qatar
$191 10% ↑ 201%$128
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
Qatar
$46 2.4% ↓ 9.5%$4.9
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
Qatar
$2K 48.1% ↑ 64.2%$800
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
Qatar
$497 11.7% ↓ 23.1%$149
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
Qatar
$667 15.7% ↓ 12.6%$96
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
Qatar
$264 6.2% ↑ 21.8%$47
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
Qatar
$285 6.7% ↓ 10%$32
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
Qatar
$403 9.5% ↑ 183%$260
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
Qatar
$94 2.2% ↓ 11.3%$12
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $920 in Spain, $1,393 in Qatar. Capital cities: $1,508 in Madrid vs $2,014 in Doha.
💰National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $4,162 in Qatar. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 51% higher in Qatar.
⭐Salaries are about 2.1 times higher in Qatar, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Qatar.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Spain vs Qatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Qatar compare to the cost in Spain?
At $1,909 per month in Qatar and $1,775 in Spain, Spain comes out about 7% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Is rent more expensive in Qatar or in Spain?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,393 in Qatar and $920 in Spain. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Qatar or Spain?
It depends on what you’re after: Spain wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.