Ceuta vs Melilla Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Ceuta vs Melilla: everyday costs favor Melilla (~1% CPI gap), housing index favors Melilla, wage stretch favors Ceuta. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Melilla
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (1% gap, Melilla ahead); Food (1% gap, Melilla ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $4 lower in Melilla than in Ceuta (~1% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $4 (favoring Melilla).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Melilla | CPI 37.6 vs 37.8 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Melilla | Rent index 10.1 vs 10.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Melilla | Groceries index 38.9 vs 39.2 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Ceuta | One-way ticket 0.71 vs 0.71 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Melilla | Utilities (85m²) 18.58 vs 18.77 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Melilla | Internet 38.32 vs 38.58 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Ceuta | Restaurant index 31.2 vs 31.2 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Ceuta | Avg net salary 2401.38 vs 2367.16 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Ceuta | PP index 42.1 vs 41.5 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Melilla leads with a 1% gap.
Rent index 10.1 vs 10.2 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Melilla — Lower housing / rent index (1% gap).
- Families: Melilla — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Melilla; purchasing power favors Ceuta.
- Remote Workers: Melilla — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Melilla (~1% gap).
- Budget Living: Melilla — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Melilla is the overall cost winner on CPI (~1% lower everyday-cost index than Ceuta).
- Housing: Melilla leads on rent index (1% gap).
- Food / groceries: Melilla is lower (1% gap).
- Purchasing power: Ceuta scores higher (1% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$4 cheaper in Melilla.
Analysis
Ceuta versus Melilla is not a single number. With a 1% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Melilla, while housing follows Melilla's rent index. Purchasing power (42.1 vs 41.5) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.