🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,311 in Tabuk versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,991 in Tabuk versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,672 in Tabuk versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Tabuk costs roughly 43% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tabuk is 2% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.51SAR 31.96
$17.66€15.45
-51.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.73SAR 104
$69.7€61.0
-60.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.36SAR 27.66
$14.16€12.39
-48.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56SAR 5.84
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SAR 6.92
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.05SAR 11.45
$2.80€2.45
8.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75SAR 2.80
$2.81€2.46
-73.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$2.06€1.81
-87.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.60€4.02
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.69€4.10
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91SAR 7.17
$1.23€1.08
55.28%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56SAR 2.09
$2.03€1.78
-72.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71SAR 10.17
$1.98€1.73
36.87%
Eggs
$2.62SAR 9.86
$3.49€3.05
-24.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.54SAR 47.09
$18.33€16.04
-31.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59SAR 24.75
$9.83€8.60
-32.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.09SAR 49.14
$19.13€16.73
-31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00SAR 7.52
$2.73€2.38
-26.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.04
$2.38€2.09
-32.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79SAR 6.74
$2.08€1.82
-13.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13SAR 8.00
$2.75€2.41
-22.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70SAR 6.40
$1.96€1.72
-13.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.84
$1.79€1.57
16.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94SAR 7.27
$1.48€1.29
31.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62SAR 2.32
$0.91€0.80
-31.87%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.86SAR 10.74
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SAR 6.38
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.82
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.63SAR 28.65
$7.13€6.24
7.01%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.88€6.89
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38€1.21
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.39€2.09
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.07
$3.01€2.63
-64.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.43SAR 148
$29.35€25.68
34.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.14
$4.36€3.82
-38.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.82
$2.13€1.86
-14.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.49SAR 50.7
$29.60€25.90
-54.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.45
$1.82€1.59
-64.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KSAR 100.4K
$37.9K€33.1K
-29.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KSAR 84.3K
$32.4K€28.3K
-30.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161SAR 604
$189€165
-14.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.11SAR 139
$22.29€19.50
66.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$104SAR 391
$37.16€32.51
180.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.5SAR 332
$58.0€50.8
52.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.85SAR 135
$20.66€18.08
73.52%
Cinema Ticket
$25.80SAR 96.9
$10.87€9.51
137.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$352SAR 1,321
$706€618
-50.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,390SAR 31.5K
$14.9K€13.0K
-43.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9SAR 221
$89.4€78.3
-34.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.2SAR 222
$36.60€32.02
61.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5SAR 295
$104€91.0
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4SAR 309
$119€104
-31.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336SAR 1,263
$1,579€1,381
-78.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366SAR 1,375
$1,238€1,083
-70.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$812SAR 3,049
$2,712€2,373
-70.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737SAR 2,769
$2,039€1,784
-63.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,566SAR 9,637
$7,527€6,585
-65.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,533SAR 5,756
$5,239€4,584
-70.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tabuk
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,762SAR 6,617
$2,364€2,068
-25.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.39
30.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tabuk: July 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Tabuk and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 34% 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: $28.00 in Tabuk vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $320 per month, with Tabuk 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
Tabuk vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tabuk and in Barcelona?
Tabuk and Barcelona differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($1,311 vs $2,320 including rent). Tabuk 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 34% 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 Tabuk and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Tabuk 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 Tabuk and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $352 in Tabuk 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 47% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,311 in Tabuk versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tabuk but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tabuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tabuk 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 Tabuk or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tabuk 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: Tabuk or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Tabuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.