Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Mataram

For one person, living is cheaper in Mataram: $608 a month against $2,381 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $21,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,381
/mo nomad
Mataram
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Mataram

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Mataram actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,381 in Barcelona versus $608 in Mataram.

  • Barcelona $2,381
  • Mataram $608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,406 in Barcelona versus $967 in Mataram.

  • Barcelona $3,406
  • Mataram $967

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,431 in Barcelona versus $1,327 in Mataram.

  • Barcelona $4,431
  • Mataram $1,327

Living in Barcelona is roughly 291% more expensive than in Mataram, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 76% above, Mataram is 55% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.89 €15.92
$0.93 Rp 16.8K
1823.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €58.9
$9.22 Rp 166.0K
617.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.69 €12.18
$3.21 Rp 57.8K
326.48%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
108.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 €2.73
$0.44 Rp 7,889
597.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 €1.73
$0.31 Rp 5,491
525.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.87 €3.44
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
42.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €4.10
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
33.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-5.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
42.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 €1.62
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
128.75%
Eggs
$4.62 €4.11
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
210.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.36 €15.44
$7.12 Rp 128.2K
143.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.28 €8.25
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
209.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.83 €17.64
$7.39 Rp 133.0K
168.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.68
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
32.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.25 Rp 22.4K
62.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.36
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
55.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.87 €2.55
$1.29 Rp 23.1K
122.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.24 Rp 22.3K
74.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.91
$1.94 Rp 34.9K
10.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.31
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
101.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.40 Rp 7,214
120.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93 €6.16
$2.63 Rp 47.3K
163.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.83 €6.96
$20.99 Rp 377.9K
-62.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.24
$1.91 Rp 34.4K
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 €2.34
$3.04 Rp 54.7K
-13.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 €2.59
$0.27 Rp 4,838
977.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.46 €22.64
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 €2.66
$0.50 Rp 8,960
500.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.35 Rp 6,222
311.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.20 €29.53
$2.72 Rp 48.9K
1120.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €28.8K
$23.8K Rp 428.7M
35.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.2K
$30.6K Rp 551.3M
3.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €163
$66.0 Rp 1.2M
177.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.61 €12.11
$3.96 Rp 71.3K
243.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.93 €29.29
$19.47 Rp 350.5K
69.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 €48.65
$19.35 Rp 348.4K
182.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 €14.70
$8.15 Rp 146.8K
102.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 €9.99
$2.85 Rp 51.2K
294.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$954 €849
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
906.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K €14.8K
$7,572 Rp 136.3M
119.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.0 €76.5
$44.19 Rp 795.3K
94.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11 €34.78
$28.84 Rp 519.0K
35.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.2
$73.5 Rp 1.3M
41.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €106
$71.4 Rp 1.3M
66.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,695 €1,508
$225 Rp 4.0M
653.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 €1,135
$133 Rp 2.4M
859.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,576 €2,291
$530 Rp 9.5M
385.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,922 €1,710
$356 Rp 6.4M
440.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,281 €6,477
$1,184 Rp 21.3M
515.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,010 €4,456
$796 Rp 14.3M
529.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,227 €1,981
$222 Rp 4.0M
902.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
9.46
-65.33%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 20, 2026

Last update for Mataram: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Mataram
$133 89.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$325
Mataram
$201 38.1% $124
Eating Out
Barcelona
$270
Mataram
$58 78.4% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$229
Mataram
$89 61% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$156
Mataram
$98 37.3% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$77
Mataram
$25 67.5% $52
Getting Around
Barcelona
$47
Mataram
$3.3 * 93% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,695 in Barcelona and $225 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 902% 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: $66.0 in Barcelona vs $9.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $201 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇮🇩 Mataram
🕒 Local time
18:56 6:56 PM
00:56 12:56 AM
6 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
402,843
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Mataram 12,630 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Mataram

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 291% in total monthly costs ($2,381 vs $608 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 902% 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: $1,695 in Barcelona versus $225 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 $954 in Barcelona versus $94.8 in Mataram. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $66.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $608 in Mataram versus $2,381 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 291% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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