😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $574 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $866 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,157 in Mataram.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 318% more expensive than in Mataram, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Mataram is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.42
$1.11Rp 19.8K
1492.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$11.11Rp 197.9K
530.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.91
$2.33Rp 41.5K
486.27%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.39
$1.79Rp 31.9K
53.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$0.55Rp 9,747
407.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.37Rp 6,508
429.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.81
$2.64Rp 47.1K
65.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.99
$3.67Rp 65.4K
24.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-14.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.79
$1.64Rp 29.2K
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$0.77Rp 13.8K
157.14%
Eggs
$3.39€2.96
$1.40Rp 25.0K
142.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.26
$3.16Rp 56.2K
489.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.34
$3.66Rp 65.3K
161.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.43
$6.21Rp 110.7K
203.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$1.66Rp 29.5K
65.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$1.20Rp 21.3K
105.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.86Rp 33.2K
12.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$0.74Rp 13.2K
281.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$0.85Rp 15.2K
137.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.88Rp 33.6K
-1.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$0.45Rp 7,987
235.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.31Rp 5,595
190.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.16
$1.83Rp 32.7K
285.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.96
$15.40Rp 274.4K
-48.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$2.45Rp 43.7K
-41.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$3.61Rp 64.4K
-36.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.51
$0.59Rp 10.5K
388.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.77
$18.55Rp 330.6K
53.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.82
$0.47Rp 8,420
831.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$0.29Rp 5,080
637.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.44
$3.14Rp 55.9K
828.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.63
$0.68Rp 12.1K
173.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.0K
$23.8KRp 423.9M
63.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$27.4KRp 489.1M
19.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$50.3Rp 896.4K
275.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.82
$4.36Rp 77.6K
420.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.85
$19.69Rp 350.8K
85.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€50.3
$26.88Rp 479.1K
114.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.64
$7.90Rp 140.8K
170.51%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$2.10Rp 37.5K
414.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€634
$92.2Rp 1.6M
687.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.2K
$4,306Rp 76.7M
250.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.5
$37.39Rp 666.4K
134.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€32.19
$24.81Rp 442.1K
48.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.3
$60.7Rp 1.1M
70.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$39.89Rp 710.8K
192.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,373
$76.0Rp 1.4M
1969.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,064
$130Rp 2.3M
839.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,366
$153Rp 2.7M
1673.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,716
$261Rp 4.7M
653.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,815
$1,232Rp 22.0M
534.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,595
$710Rp 12.7M
641.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,072
$195Rp 3.5M
1115.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9
-62.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Mataram: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $76.0 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1116% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $175 per month, with Mataram 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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Mataram?
Barcelona and Mataram differ by about 318% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $574 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Mataram?
Average pay runs 1116% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $76.0 in Mataram. 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 Mataram?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $92.2 in Mataram. 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 83% 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 $574 in Mataram versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mataram?
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 Mataram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mataram 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 Mataram?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 318% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.