🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Tangier versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Tangier versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Tangier versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Tangier costs roughly 62% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tangier is 34% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41MAD 41.14
$17.66€15.43
-75.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.62MAD 285
$69.7€60.9
-56.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.24MAD 67.5
$14.16€12.37
-48.87%
Cappuccino
$1.66MAD 15.49
$2.80€2.45
-40.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.17
$2.81€2.46
-76.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.05
$2.06€1.80
-83.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.80MAD 35.45
$4.60€4.02
-17.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34MAD 31.12
$4.69€4.10
-28.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01MAD 9.38
$1.23€1.07
-17.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85MAD 7.94
$2.03€1.78
-58.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69MAD 15.76
$1.98€1.73
-14.65%
Eggs
$2.20MAD 20.50
$3.49€3.05
-36.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.76MAD 91.0
$18.33€16.01
-46.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.80MAD 63.4
$9.83€8.59
-30.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65MAD 118
$19.13€16.71
-33.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30MAD 12.12
$2.73€2.38
-52.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MAD 12.73
$2.38€2.08
-42.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.14
$2.08€1.82
-62.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.86
$2.75€2.41
-73.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 6.03
$1.96€1.71
-66.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.70
$1.79€1.57
-59.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54MAD 5.07
$1.48€1.29
-63.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.76
$0.91€0.80
-31.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26MAD 39.77
$7.13€6.23
-40.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92MAD 92.5
$7.88€6.88
25.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29MAD 30.69
$1.38€1.20
138.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27MAD 30.49
$2.39€2.09
36.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MAD 4.01
$3.01€2.63
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.66MAD 155
$29.35€25.65
-43.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58MAD 5.38
$4.36€3.81
-86.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.46
$2.13€1.86
-77.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.95MAD 92.8
$29.60€25.86
-66.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 14.21
$1.82€1.59
-16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KMAD 347.8K
$37.9K€33.1K
-1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMAD 228.3K
$32.4K€28.3K
-24.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8MAD 781
$189€165
-55.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.17MAD 104
$22.29€19.48
-49.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.16MAD 365
$37.16€32.47
5.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.90MAD 260
$58.0€50.7
-51.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.31MAD 357
$20.66€18.05
85.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.18MAD 66.9
$10.87€9.50
-33.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.9MAD 913
$706€617
-86.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,495MAD 60.6K
$14.9K€13.0K
-56.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.46MAD 284
$89.4€78.2
-65.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.53MAD 425
$36.60€31.98
24.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9MAD 829
$104€90.9
-14.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9MAD 754
$119€104
-32.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445MAD 4,153
$1,579€1,379
-71.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238MAD 2,215
$1,238€1,082
-80.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873MAD 8,142
$2,712€2,370
-67.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441MAD 4,112
$2,039€1,782
-78.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,810MAD 16.9K
$7,527€6,576
-75.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,264MAD 11.8K
$5,239€4,577
-75.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangier
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$510MAD 4,756
$2,364€2,065
-78.42%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Tangier and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 363% 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: $31.00 in Tangier vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $320 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 164% in total monthly costs ($879 vs $2,320 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 363% 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: $445 in Tangier 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 Tangier and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $97.9 in Tangier 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 50% 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 $879 in Tangier versus $2,320 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 164% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.