🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,042 in Tangier versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,591 in Tangier versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,140 in Tangier versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Tangier costs roughly 58% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tangier is 24% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40MAD 50.4
$18.39€15.86
-70.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.72MAD 352
$69.2€59.7
-45.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56MAD 70.6
$14.13€12.19
-46.50%
Cappuccino
$2.32MAD 21.65
$3.13€2.70
-25.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MAD 8.22
$3.02€2.60
-70.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MAD 4.20
$1.96€1.69
-77.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.29MAD 58.7
$4.00€3.45
57.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42MAD 50.6
$4.76€4.11
13.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10MAD 10.32
$1.25€1.08
-12.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16MAD 10.82
$2.16€1.87
-46.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MAD 16.51
$1.69€1.45
4.73%
Eggs
$1.94MAD 18.14
$4.93€4.25
-60.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36MAD 96.7
$17.88€15.42
-42.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.17MAD 67.0
$9.61€8.29
-25.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.89MAD 130
$19.34€16.68
-28.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 14.84
$3.24€2.79
-50.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.48
$2.18€1.88
-28.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.13
$2.67€2.30
-71.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.24
$2.77€2.39
-71.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 6.04
$2.21€1.91
-70.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.86
$2.19€1.89
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51MAD 4.77
$1.52€1.31
-66.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.50
$0.92€0.79
-35.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34MAD 40.56
$7.12€6.14
-39.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.46MAD 88.3
$8.14€7.02
16.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.03MAD 37.63
$1.50€1.29
168.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99MAD 37.28
$2.78€2.40
43.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$3.15€2.72
-86.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.04MAD 150
$26.99€23.28
-40.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.85
$3.25€2.80
-77.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93MAD 8.73
$1.50€1.29
-38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45MAD 88.2
$34.89€30.10
-72.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MAD 14.35
$1.75€1.51
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMAD 325.9K
$36.7K€31.6K
-4.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KMAD 285.1K
$30.9K€26.7K
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.9MAD 718
$188€162
-59.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04MAD 131
$15.44€13.32
-9.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.16MAD 384
$37.80€32.60
8.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.83MAD 288
$57.2€49.32
-46.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.61MAD 351
$16.80€14.49
123.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67MAD 71.6
$11.58€9.99
-33.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.4MAD 890
$1,003€865
-90.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,349MAD 59.3K
$17.0K€14.7K
-62.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.82MAD 353
$89.2€77.0
-57.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4MAD 480
$40.87€35.25
25.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MAD 953
$110€94.9
-7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MAD 1,009
$123€106
-11.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507MAD 4,733
$1,673€1,443
-69.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331MAD 3,091
$1,331€1,148
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892MAD 8,327
$2,596€2,239
-65.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$533MAD 4,972
$1,950€1,682
-72.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,794MAD 16.8K
$7,573€6,532
-76.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,232MAD 11.5K
$5,370€4,632
-77.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524MAD 4,897
$2,402€2,072
-78.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
3.16
16.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tangier: August 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Tangier and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 358% 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: $38.00 in Tangier vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $332 per month, with Tangier 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
Tangier vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tangier and in Barcelona?
Tangier and Barcelona differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($1,042 vs $2,495 including rent). Tangier 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 358% 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 Tangier and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Tangier versus $1,673 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 Tangier and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $95.4 in Tangier versus $1,003 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 44% 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 $1,042 in Tangier versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tangier but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tangier the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tangier 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 Tangier or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tangier 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: Tangier or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Tangier gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.