😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,098 in Maltepe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,683 in Maltepe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,268 in Maltepe.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 115% more expensive than in Maltepe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Maltepe is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$11.29₺536
51.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$29.60₺1,407
129.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$6.18₺294
120.71%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$2.34₺111
18.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$1.04₺49.41
171.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.36₺17.18
444.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$2.06₺97.7
115.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.48₺118
85.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$0.94₺44.78
35.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.68₺32.38
213.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$2.20₺104
-9.55%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.13₺101
58.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$9.66₺459
96.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$4.90₺233
94.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$19.55₺929
-4.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.46₺69.3
81.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.28₺108
3.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.28₺60.9
63.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.65₺78.6
65.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.71₺33.75
176.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.68₺32.32
166.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.66₺31.27
128.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.58₺27.34
53.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.18₺103
211.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$10.74₺510
-26.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.24₺107
-38.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.17₺150
-24.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.66₺31.52
340.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$31.02₺1,474
-7.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$1.09₺51.9
320.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.58₺27.79
251.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$8.70₺414
230.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.21₺57.5
50.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$46.2K₺2.2M
-14.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$42.6K₺2.0M
-23.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$62.1₺2,953
200.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$11.38₺541
95.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$12.98₺617
180.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$43.70₺2,077
31.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$7.81₺371
37.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$949₺45.1K
-23.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$6,109₺290.4K
147.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$40.32₺1,916
117.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$46.29₺2,200
-20.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$58.1₺2,762
77.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$105₺4,987
12.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$503₺23.9K
202.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$393₺18.7K
212.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$878₺41.7K
210.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$718₺34.1K
176.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,334₺63.4K
459.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,015₺48.2K
416.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
32
-89.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Maltepe: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $503 in Maltepe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $30.00 in Maltepe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $232 per month, with Maltepe 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 Maltepe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Maltepe?
Barcelona and Maltepe differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,098 including rent). Maltepe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Maltepe?
You'd need roughly $3,539 in Barcelona and $1,648 in Maltepe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Maltepe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $503 in Maltepe. 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 Maltepe?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $949 in Maltepe. 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 38% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,098 in Maltepe versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maltepe but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maltepe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Maltepe?
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 Maltepe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Maltepe 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 Maltepe?
Expats usually find Maltepe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.