😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $627 in Western Sahara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,399 in Spain versus $1,026 in Western Sahara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $1,425 in Western Sahara.
😐Living in Spain is roughly 162% more expensive than Western Sahara on average.
📊Spain (22% above) and Western Sahara (53% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,127 to $3,255, compared to $627–$627 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98€13.77
$3.77MAD 34.86
323.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6€49.63
$29.37MAD 272
96.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.27€8.85
$4.73MAD 43.79
117.12%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.05
$1.68MAD 15.56
41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.22
$0.52MAD 4.83
396.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.58
$0.34MAD 3.15
438.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.05
$3.44MAD 31.85
2.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09€3.52
$4.57MAD 42.23
-10.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$0.82MAD 7.60
48.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.31
$0.55MAD 5.12
178.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$1.87MAD 17.30
-14.44%
Eggs
$2.93€2.53
$1.37MAD 12.71
113.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33€12.34
$11.45MAD 106
25.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.31€7.16
$3.45MAD 31.92
140.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.62€13.46
$9.32MAD 86.2
67.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$1.54MAD 14.25
64.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.18MAD 10.88
68.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$0.70MAD 6.49
201.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$0.60MAD 5.56
323.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$0.44MAD 4.06
302.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$0.37MAD 3.38
435.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$0.95MAD 8.83
36.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.59MAD 5.48
25.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19€5.33
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93€5.11
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.07
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.78
$3.40MAD 31.45
-39.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.53
$0.60MAD 5.51
196.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.91€30.08
$11.37MAD 105
207.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.48€3.86
$0.76MAD 7.02
489.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
$0.64MAD 5.92
109.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.24€22.61
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.51
$1.28MAD 11.81
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€32.9K
$39.7KMAD 367.2K
-3.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.3K
$26.7KMAD 246.9K
18.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€128
$33.15MAD 307
348.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16€17.37
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11€29.39
$22.71MAD 210
50.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.12€40.60
$23.56MAD 218
100.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.83€13.64
$34.52MAD 319
-54.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.47€8.16
$3.54MAD 32.70
167.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517€445
$284MAD 2,631
81.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K€8,752
$3,410MAD 31.5K
197.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2€75.1
$34.12MAD 316
155.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36€32.19
$58.1MAD 538
-35.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3€78.7
$75.7MAD 700
20.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€91.0
$79.8MAD 739
32.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,074€925
$349MAD 3,226
207.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815€702
$171MAD 1,582
376.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,691€1,457
$696MAD 6,443
142.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,058
$289MAD 2,677
324.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,338€3,738
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,744€2,364
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,031€1,750
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026
Last update for Western Sahara: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $347 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $1,609 in Madrid vs $347 in Laayoune.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 159% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 83% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in Spain.
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 Western Sahara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Spain or Western Sahara?
At $2,191 per month in Spain and $627 in Western Sahara, there's a 249% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Spain or Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Spain and Western Sahara?
Rent in Spain beats Western Sahara across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $800 go in Spain vs Western Sahara?
In Western Sahara, $800 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Spain and Western Sahara?
It depends on what you're after. Western Sahara wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.