Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $132 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $246 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $360 in Maharagama.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1780% more expensive than in Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Maharagama is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 €16.31

$5.20 LKR 1,719

260.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.5

$20.09 LKR 6,642

245.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 €11.98

$7.02 LKR 2,321

96.15%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$2.13 LKR 705

45.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 €2.47

$0.61 LKR 201

363.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.64

$0.29 LKR 94.3

548.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 €3.47

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.11

$0.90 LKR 297

41.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.88

$0.25 LKR 82.7

764.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.53

$0.51 LKR 168

245.10%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.46

$1.44 LKR 476

256.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.56

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 €8.40

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 €17.54

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 €2.83

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.94

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 €2.26

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.40

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.92

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 €1.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 €0.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 €6.39

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 €7.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 €2.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 €22.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 €2.85

$0.45 LKR 148

626.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 €1.29

$0.48 LKR 159

208.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 €29.83

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 €1.50

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K €31.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.5K €26.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 €163

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.14 €13.18

$4.69 LKR 1,549

222.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.69 €32.80

$13.87 LKR 4,587

171.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 €48.69

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 €14.87

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.93

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$997 €867

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €80.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.22 €35.88

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €96.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €109

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 €1,486

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 €1,119

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 €2,233

$200 LKR 66.1K

1183.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 €1,690

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 €6,656

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,167 €4,497

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,348 €2,044

$248 LKR 81.9K

848.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 849% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $20.00 in Maharagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $19.00 per month, with Maharagama 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

Barcelona vs Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Maharagama differ by about 1780% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $132 including rent). Maharagama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 849% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Maharagama – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,476 per month in Barcelona versus $132 in Maharagama – a 1780% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Maharagama versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maharagama but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maharagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Maharagama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1780% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.