😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $1,089 in Maltepe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,667 in Maltepe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $2,245 in Maltepe.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 120% more expensive than in Maltepe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Maltepe is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.42
$11.58₺538
52.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$30.12₺1,398
132.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.91
$6.49₺301
110.48%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.39
$2.30₺107
19.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.02₺47.54
173.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.37₺17.16
429.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.81
$1.99₺92.1
119.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.99
$2.59₺120
76.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$0.95₺44.06
35.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.79
$0.68₺31.56
201.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$2.17₺101
-8.76%
Eggs
$3.39€2.96
$2.16₺100
56.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.26
$9.30₺432
100.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.34
$5.10₺237
87.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.43
$19.99₺928
-5.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$1.46₺67.8
88.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$2.27₺105
8.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.35₺62.5
55.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$1.58₺73.3
78.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$0.76₺35.44
165.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$0.69₺31.91
168.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$0.71₺32.82
112.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.62₺28.72
45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.16
$2.20₺102
220.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.96
$10.70₺497
-25.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$2.14₺99.1
-33.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$3.04₺141
-24.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.51
$0.64₺29.59
350.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.77
$30.64₺1,422
-7.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.82
$1.10₺51.1
298.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$0.59₺27.38
262.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.44
$8.84₺410
229.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.63
$1.21₺56.3
53.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.0K
$45.3K₺2.1M
-13.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$43.0K₺2.0M
-23.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$63.0₺2,923
200.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.82
$11.47₺532
97.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.85
$12.94₺601
182.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€50.3
$44.13₺2,048
30.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$7.41₺344
45.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€634
$955₺44.3K
-23.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.2K
$6,026₺279.7K
150.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.5
$41.07₺1,906
113.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€32.19
$46.50₺2,158
-20.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.3
$58.9₺2,734
75.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$105₺4,891
10.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,373
$506₺23.5K
210.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,064
$394₺18.3K
209.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,366
$881₺40.9K
207.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,716
$721₺33.5K
172.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,815
$1,446₺67.1K
440.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,595
$979₺45.5K
437.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Maltepe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Maltepe: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $506 in Maltepe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $30.00 in Maltepe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $233 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 120% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $1,089 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 $3,599 in Barcelona and $1,634 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: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $506 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $955 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 37% 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 $1,089 in Maltepe versus $2,399 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 120% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.