Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Malatya Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Malatya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $989 in Malatya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,491 in Malatya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,993 in Malatya.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 136% more expensive than Malatya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Malatya is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.72
$3.63 ₺168
370.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.7
$25.76 ₺1,192
168.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 €11.87
$6.21 ₺287
121.90%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.37
$2.21 ₺102
24.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.40
$1.00 ₺46.05
179.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.72
$0.39 ₺18.26
410.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.76
$2.98 ₺138
46.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 €4.09
$3.46 ₺160
36.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.11
$1.05 ₺48.51
22.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.44 ₺20.46
365.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.98 ₺91.8
0.51%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.92
$2.73 ₺126
24.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.81 €16.21
$11.19 ₺518
68.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 €8.07
$5.08 ₺235
84.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.12 €16.48
$20.63 ₺955
-7.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.32
$1.15 ₺53.3
134.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$2.01 ₺93.1
16.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.83
$1.07 ₺49.30
98.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$1.20 ₺55.3
137.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.70
$0.80 ₺36.89
146.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 €1.55
$0.76 ₺35.32
136.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.25
$0.67 ₺30.92
116.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$0.38 ₺17.78
126.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.84
$2.18 ₺101
211.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 €6.81
$10.87 ₺503
-27.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.47 ₺114
-43.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.44 ₺159
-31.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 €2.52
$0.67 ₺30.92
335.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.69 €24.72
$30.19 ₺1,397
-4.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 €3.84
$1.08 ₺50.2
312.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.58 ₺26.78
253.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 €25.46
$7.40 ₺342
299.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.56
$1.08 ₺50.1
68.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K €33.5K
$40.9K ₺1.9M
-5.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.5K
$43.9K ₺2.0M
-24.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €163
$63.0 ₺2,915
200.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80 €19.65
$9.11 ₺421
150.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59 €32.39
$8.91 ₺412
321.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 €49.75
$44.10 ₺2,040
30.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74 €17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82 €9.33
$2.59 ₺120
317.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$728 €628
$602 ₺27.8K
21.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K €12.7K
$8,865 ₺410.1K
66.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6 €76.4
$18.92 ₺875
368.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85 €31.75
$25.05 ₺1,159
47.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.9
$76.6 ₺3,545
33.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €100
$51.8 ₺2,395
124.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 €1,352
$517 ₺23.9K
203.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,050
$396 ₺18.3K
207.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 €2,409
$901 ₺41.7K
210.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,975 €1,702
$719 ₺33.3K
174.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,754 €6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,176 €4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Malatya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,343 €2,019
$959 ₺44.4K
144.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
47
-92.79%

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

Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026

Last update for Malatya: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $517 in Malatya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 144% 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 $26.00 in Malatya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $235 per month, with Malatya 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 Malatya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Malatya?
Barcelona and Malatya differ by about 136% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $989 including rent). Malatya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Malatya?
Barcelona pays 144% 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 Barcelona and Malatya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $517 in Malatya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Malatya?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $602 in Malatya. 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 36% 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 $989 in Malatya versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malatya but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Malatya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Malatya?
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 Barcelona or Malatya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Malatya 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: Barcelona or Malatya?
Expats usually find Malatya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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