🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Yanbu versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,512 in Yanbu versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,023 in Yanbu versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Yanbu costs roughly 57% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yanbu is 26% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.59SAR 24.73
$17.08€14.72
-61.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.96SAR 142
$69.2€59.7
-45.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.49SAR 24.34
$13.78€11.87
-52.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01SAR 7.56
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.95
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.74SAR 14.05
$2.76€2.37
35.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.62
$2.79€2.40
-74.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$1.99€1.72
-88.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.36€3.76
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74€4.09
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.44
$1.29€1.11
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87SAR 3.28
$2.05€1.77
-57.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.24
$1.99€1.71
10.55%
Eggs
$2.64SAR 9.90
$3.39€2.92
-22.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.85SAR 21.96
$18.81€16.21
-68.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.92SAR 29.72
$9.36€8.07
-15.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20SAR 45.78
$19.12€16.48
-36.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.11
$2.70€2.32
-20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.87
$2.34€2.02
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46SAR 5.46
$2.12€1.83
-31.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.80
$2.85€2.46
-45.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.71
$1.97€1.70
-36.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97SAR 3.62
$1.80€1.55
-46.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$1.45€1.25
-24.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.08
$0.86€0.74
-36.05%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.30SAR 4.87
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32SAR 4.94
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76SAR 6.61
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.24SAR 23.41
$6.78€5.84
-7.96%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90€6.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39€1.20
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37€2.04
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.05
$2.92€2.52
-63.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.86SAR 127
$28.69€24.72
18.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26SAR 12.23
$4.46€3.84
-26.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78SAR 2.92
$2.05€1.77
-61.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.35SAR 57.6
$29.55€25.46
-48.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57SAR 2.14
$1.82€1.56
-68.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KSAR 97.2K
$38.8K€33.5K
-33.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.0K
$33.1K€28.5K
-33.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 398
$189€163
-43.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.79SAR 85.5
$22.80€19.65
-0.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7SAR 258
$37.59€32.39
82.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.5SAR 366
$57.7€49.75
68.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.04SAR 132
$20.74€17.87
68.95%
Cinema Ticket
$13.12SAR 49.23
$10.82€9.33
21.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315SAR 1,181
$728€628
-56.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,765SAR 14.1K
$14.8K€12.7K
-74.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.07SAR 86.6
$88.6€76.4
-73.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.91SAR 78.5
$36.85€31.75
-43.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.3SAR 249
$102€87.9
-35.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.58SAR 182
$116€100
-58.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$316SAR 1,185
$1,569€1,352
-79.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244SAR 914
$1,218€1,050
-80.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$606SAR 2,274
$2,795€2,409
-78.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410SAR 1,539
$1,975€1,702
-79.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754€6,680
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176€4,460
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yanbu
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,532SAR 13.3K
$2,343€2,019
50.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
3.39
-2.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yanbu: June 9, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $316 in Yanbu and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yanbu pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Yanbu vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $319 per month, with Yanbu 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
Yanbu vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yanbu and Barcelona?
Yanbu and Barcelona differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($1,000 vs $2,337 including rent). Yanbu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Yanbu or Barcelona?
Yanbu pays 51% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Yanbu and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $316 in Yanbu versus $1,569 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 Yanbu and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $315 in Yanbu versus $728 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 68% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,000 in Yanbu versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yanbu but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Yanbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yanbu 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 Yanbu or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yanbu 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: Yanbu or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Yanbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.