Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Mataram Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Mataram

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $558 in Mataram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $861 in Mataram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,163 in Mataram.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 323% more expensive than in Mataram, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Mataram is 58% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15 €14.86
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
1445.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €58.9
$11.00 Rp 198.5K
518.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.64 €11.82
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
498.25%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.41
$1.80 Rp 32.5K
54.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.44
$0.55 Rp 9,869
412.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.70
$0.36 Rp 6,535
444.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 €3.84
$2.63 Rp 47.5K
68.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €3.99
$3.67 Rp 66.2K
25.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
-16.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.85
$1.61 Rp 29.1K
32.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
161.84%
Eggs
$3.37 €2.92
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
145.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.96 €16.42
$3.31 Rp 59.7K
472.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 €8.26
$3.59 Rp 64.8K
165.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.73 €16.22
$5.99 Rp 108.2K
212.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 €2.29
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
54.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 €2.04
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
92.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 €1.81
$1.89 Rp 34.1K
10.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 €2.37
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
264.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.70
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
133.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.80 Rp 32.5K
0.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.31
$0.48 Rp 8,639
214.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.77
$0.32 Rp 5,695
178.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.87
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
280.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.92 €6.86
$15.33 Rp 276.7K
-48.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.19
$2.36 Rp 42.6K
-41.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 €2.08
$3.58 Rp 64.6K
-32.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 €2.52
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
361.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.66 €24.82
$18.41 Rp 332.4K
55.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 €3.96
$0.51 Rp 9,185
798.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 €1.77
$0.31 Rp 5,661
558.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.72 €24.87
$3.08 Rp 55.7K
832.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.58
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
163.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K €34.0K
$23.3K Rp 420.7M
68.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K €28.1K
$27.5K Rp 496.7M
18.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €162
$50.4 Rp 909.6K
270.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.30
$4.32 Rp 78.1K
415.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37 €31.50
$19.37 Rp 349.8K
87.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 €49.82
$26.95 Rp 486.5K
113.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74 €17.96
$7.48 Rp 135.0K
177.27%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77 €9.33
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
412.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$725 €628
$91.5 Rp 1.7M
692.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.1K
$4,217 Rp 76.1M
259.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9 €76.1
$36.84 Rp 665.2K
138.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81 €31.88
$24.43 Rp 441.0K
50.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €89.6
$61.5 Rp 1.1M
68.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €103
$40.48 Rp 730.8K
192.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,524 €1,319
$76.8 Rp 1.4M
1884.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 €1,062
$128 Rp 2.3M
860.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,727 €2,362
$153 Rp 2.8M
1677.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 €1,718
$259 Rp 4.7M
665.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,469 €6,468
$1,155 Rp 20.8M
546.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,243 €4,541
$679 Rp 12.3M
672.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,393 €2,072
$192 Rp 3.5M
1145.30%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mataram: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $76.8 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 1145% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $174 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 323% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $558 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 1145% 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: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $76.8 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $91.5 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 $558 in Mataram versus $2,359 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 323% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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