🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $874 in Tangier versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,341 in Tangier versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,808 in Tangier versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Tangier costs roughly 63% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tangier is 35% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43MAD 40.68
$17.58€15.12
-74.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.25MAD 278
$68.4€58.9
-55.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23MAD 66.5
$14.06€12.09
-48.58%
Cappuccino
$1.72MAD 15.77
$2.78€2.39
-38.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MAD 6.47
$2.80€2.41
-75.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.00
$2.06€1.78
-83.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94MAD 36.20
$4.46€3.84
-11.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31MAD 30.39
$4.61€3.96
-28.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05MAD 9.65
$1.24€1.07
-15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88MAD 8.04
$2.03€1.74
-56.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MAD 15.47
$1.92€1.65
-12.50%
Eggs
$2.19MAD 20.15
$3.31€2.85
-33.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.24MAD 94.1
$18.43€15.85
-44.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86MAD 63.1
$9.49€8.16
-27.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55MAD 115
$19.16€16.48
-34.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30MAD 11.92
$2.64€2.27
-50.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MAD 12.49
$2.45€2.11
-44.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 6.95
$2.12€1.82
-64.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.28
$2.85€2.45
-72.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.26
$2.04€1.75
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70MAD 6.46
$1.85€1.59
-62.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MAD 4.92
$1.47€1.26
-63.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.53
$0.84€0.73
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50MAD 41.38
$7.14€6.14
-36.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.61MAD 88.3
$7.88€6.78
21.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25MAD 29.90
$1.38€1.19
135.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26MAD 29.95
$2.31€1.99
41.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45MAD 4.16
$2.98€2.56
-84.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.55MAD 152
$29.26€25.17
-43.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52MAD 4.82
$4.60€3.95
-88.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.39
$2.07€1.78
-76.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.97MAD 91.6
$29.18€25.10
-65.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MAD 14.85
$1.84€1.58
-11.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4KMAD 343.5K
$39.0K€33.6K
-4.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMAD 217.1K
$32.7K€28.1K
-27.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7MAD 760
$188€162
-55.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28MAD 104
$22.93€19.73
-50.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.92MAD 367
$36.71€31.58
8.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.60MAD 263
$57.4€49.35
-50.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.05MAD 359
$20.70€17.80
88.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.52MAD 69.1
$11.19€9.63
-32.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.9MAD 890
$721€620
-86.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,455MAD 59.3K
$15.0K€12.9K
-57.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.68MAD 291
$86.2€74.2
-63.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.40MAD 417
$37.07€31.89
22.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9MAD 799
$102€87.8
-14.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9MAD 771
$116€99.7
-27.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440MAD 4,047
$1,534€1,319
-71.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237MAD 2,182
$1,220€1,050
-80.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$881MAD 8,092
$2,696€2,319
-67.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441MAD 4,048
$2,013€1,732
-78.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,884MAD 17.3K
$7,220€6,211
-73.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,255MAD 11.5K
$5,189€4,463
-75.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$521MAD 4,791
$2,359€2,029
-77.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
3.39
28.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tangier: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Tangier and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 353% 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: $30.00 in Tangier vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $318 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 Barcelona?
Tangier and Barcelona differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($874 vs $2,367 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, Barcelona earns 353% less. 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 Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Tangier versus $1,534 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 $96.9 in Tangier versus $721 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 48% 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 $874 in Tangier versus $2,367 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 171% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.