Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Moratuwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Moratuwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $65.7 in Moratuwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $114 in Moratuwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $163 in Moratuwa.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 3698% more expensive than in Moratuwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Moratuwa is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 €15.83

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 €59.5

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.13 €12.16

Cappuccino

$3.13 €2.70

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 €2.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 €3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 €4.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 €1.07

$1.30 LKR 428

-3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.86

$0.45 LKR 148

380.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

$0.84 LKR 275

101.19%

Eggs

$4.93 €4.24

$2.37 LKR 777

108.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.39

$12.29 LKR 4,034

45.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.61 €8.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 €16.64

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 €2.78

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 €1.87

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 €2.30

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 €2.39

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.90

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 €1.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 €1.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 €0.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 €6.13

Wine (Bottle)

$8.14 €7.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.39

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.15 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.99 €23.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 €2.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 €1.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.89 €30.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 €1.50

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.7K €31.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.9K €26.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 €161

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.44 €13.29

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.80 €32.52

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 €49.21

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 €14.45

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 €9.96

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,003 €863

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K €14.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 €76.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.87 €35.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 €94.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 €106

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 €1,440

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 €1,146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 €2,234

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 €1,678

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,573 €6,517

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,370 €4,621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,402 €2,067

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: August 30, 2026

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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Moratuwa differ by about 3698% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $65.7 including rent). Moratuwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,743 in Barcelona and $98.5 in Moratuwa 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 393% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,495 per month in Barcelona versus $65.7 in Moratuwa – a 3698% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $65.7 in Moratuwa versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Moratuwa but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Moratuwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Moratuwa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Moratuwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3698% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.