🇨🇦 Canada
111
Cost of Living Index in Canada
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Barcelona
For one person, living is cheaper in the United Arab Emirates: $2,227 a month against $2,405 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Barcelona outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
-
-
😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 2.2% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 2% cheaper than Barcelona without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$17.98 €16.05
-47.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$67.4 €60.2
-10.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$13.37 €11.93
-27.52%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$3.34 €2.98
59.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$2.95 €2.64
-64.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$1.90 €1.69
-75.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$3.88 €3.46
204.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$4.57 €4.08
170.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.27 €1.13
35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$1.96 €1.75
-25.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$1.75 €1.56
22.29%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$4.89 €4.36
-34.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$17.47 €15.59
-39.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$9.06 €8.09
-2.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$20.18 €18.01
-42.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$3.08 €2.75
-20.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$2.03 €1.81
-12.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$2.60 €2.32
-35.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$2.71 €2.42
-49.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$2.15 €1.92
-50.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$2.21 €1.97
-52.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.54 €1.38
-3.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$0.93 €0.83
-39.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$7.09 €6.32
-14.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$7.63 €6.81
77.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.49 €1.33
63.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$2.73 €2.43
1.10%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$2.95 €2.63
-45.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$25.91 €23.13
81.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$3.13 €2.80
3.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$1.45 €1.29
-58.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$34.17 €30.49
-75.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.79 €1.60
-46.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$34.7K €31.0K
29.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$30.3K €27.0K
-26.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$181 €161
9.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$13.56 €12.10
293.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$35.12 €31.34
160.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$53.2 €47.44
38.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$16.05 €14.33
108.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$11.37 €10.14
21.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$939 €838
-39.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$16.5K €14.7K
-26.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$88.2 €78.7
-30.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$39.77 €35.49
45.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$103 €92.3
-3.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$119 €107
-16.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$1,695 €1,513
-8.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$1,301 €1,161
-16.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$2,576 €2,299
6.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$1,941 €1,732
4.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$7,470 €6,666
-24.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$5,195 €4,636
-45.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$2,299 €2,052
22.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
3.28
41.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Barcelona $1.3K 54% 19.1% $209
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Barcelona $229 9.5% 33% $113
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Barcelona $325 13.5% 23.5% $62
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Barcelona $272 11.3% 5.4% $14
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Barcelona $158 6.6% 10% $14
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Barcelona $76 3.2% 25.1% $25
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Barcelona $48 2% 19.6% $12
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Barcelona $1.9K 43.5% 4% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Barcelona $243 5.4% 38.6% $153
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Barcelona $774 17.3% 29.2% $175
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Barcelona $886 19.9% 10.6% $85
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Barcelona $351 7.9% 10% $32
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Barcelona $168 3.8% 28.9% $68
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Barcelona $102 2.3% 16.9% $21
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇪🇸 Barcelona
Weather
Population
9,890,400
1,660,122
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Barcelona 5,140 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- Barcelona
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
🇦🇹 Austria
109
Cost of Living Index in Austria
Learn more 
🇧🇪 Belgium
106
Cost of Living Index in Belgium
Learn more 
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
114
Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
Learn more 
🇬🇫 French Guiana
114
Cost of Living Index in French Guiana
Learn more 
🇵🇲 Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
