😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,682 in Mosta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,568 in Mosta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $3,454 in Mosta.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 38% more expensive than in Mosta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Mosta26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$17.68€15.48
-0.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$68.4€59.9
1.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$11.73€10.27
20.72%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.42€2.12
15.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.78€1.56
57.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$1.04€0.91
98.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.80€2.46
64.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$4.39€3.85
6.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.21€1.06
1.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.37€1.20
48.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$3.53€3.09
-43.91%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.87€2.51
21.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$8.03€7.03
128.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$5.02€4.40
95.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.44€9.15
83.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.31€2.03
18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.54€1.34
54.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.81€1.59
14.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.29€2.01
20.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.38€1.21
42.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.69€2.35
-33.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.91€1.67
-22.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.77€0.67
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$6.35€5.56
12.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$6.07€5.32
29.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.17€1.02
17.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.37€1.20
74.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$2.84€2.49
5.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$4.14€3.63
5.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.87€1.64
13.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$28.84€25.26
2.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.50€1.31
21.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$26.1K€22.8K
45.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$40.2K€35.2K
-19.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$89.9€78.7
110.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$22.74€19.92
-1.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.02€28.92
12.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$68.9€60.4
-15.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$8.58€7.51
140.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$14.11€12.36
-22.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$258€226
174.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$11.8K€10.3K
26.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$74.2€65.0
20.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$37.97€33.26
-3.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$105€92.3
-1.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$84.2€73.7
41.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$968€848
63.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$834€730
48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,647€1,443
64.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,382€1,211
47.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mosta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$1,822€1,596
29.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.62
-26.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mosta: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $968 in Mosta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 30% 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 $68.0 in Mosta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $218 per month, with Mosta 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 Mosta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Mosta?
Barcelona and Mosta differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,682 including rent). Mosta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Mosta?
Average pay runs 30% 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 Mosta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $968 in Mosta. 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 Mosta?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $258 in Mosta. 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 Mosta – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,682 in Mosta versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mosta but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mosta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mosta?
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 Mosta safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mosta 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 Mosta?
Expats usually find Mosta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.