😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $577 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $888 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,200 in Mataram.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 306% more expensive than Mataram, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Mataram is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$1.05Rp 18.3K
1577.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$11.02Rp 190.9K
523.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$2.25Rp 39.0K
511.11%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.87Rp 32.4K
47.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.55Rp 9,529
405.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.36Rp 6,243
469.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.63Rp 45.6K
75.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$3.78Rp 65.6K
21.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.56Rp 27.0K
-17.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.68Rp 29.1K
25.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.83Rp 14.4K
137.35%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.36Rp 23.6K
152.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$3.32Rp 57.5K
467.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.53Rp 61.2K
167.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.29Rp 109.1K
202.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.70Rp 29.5K
60.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.21Rp 21.0K
95.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.86Rp 32.3K
11.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$0.79Rp 13.7K
249.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.79Rp 13.7K
149.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.89Rp 32.8K
-5.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.47Rp 8,180
221.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.31Rp 5,443
190.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$1.79Rp 31.1K
277.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$16.27Rp 282.1K
-53.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.46Rp 42.6K
-41.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.80Rp 65.9K
-36.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.63Rp 10.9K
380.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$18.37Rp 318.5K
54.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.48Rp 8,285
822.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.29Rp 5,024
606.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$3.16Rp 54.7K
828.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.65Rp 11.2K
190.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$23.4KRp 405.9M
65.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$28.0KRp 485.3M
15.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$50.2Rp 870.0K
275.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$4.39Rp 76.2K
405.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$19.07Rp 330.6K
93.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$26.67Rp 462.3K
117.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$7.66Rp 132.7K
174.02%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$2.10Rp 36.3K
426.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$90.8Rp 1.6M
700.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,319Rp 74.9M
252.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$36.80Rp 637.8K
140.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$24.84Rp 430.6K
48.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$61.1Rp 1.1M
67.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$40.16Rp 696.1K
196.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$76.9Rp 1.3M
1884.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$128Rp 2.2M
849.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$156Rp 2.7M
1686.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$265Rp 4.6M
665.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,199Rp 20.8M
491.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$783Rp 13.6M
519.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$202Rp 3.5M
1087.34%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $76.9 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1087% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $179 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 Mataram?
Barcelona and Mataram differ by about 306% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $577 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?
Barcelona pays 1087% more on average, 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 Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $76.9 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 $90.8 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 79% 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 $577 in Mataram versus $2,341 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 306% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.