Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and San Mateo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and San Mateo, CA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Barcelona is 16.2% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 47.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Barcelona is 28.8% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 48.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 โ‚ฌ15.03
$20.55 $20.55
-15.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 โ‚ฌ59.3
$65.3 $65.3
5.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.71 โ‚ฌ11.84
$11.69 $11.69
17.28%
Cappuccino
$2.78 โ‚ฌ2.4
$5.06 $5.06
-45.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 โ‚ฌ2.42
$3.17 $3.17
-11.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.71
$2.45 $2.45
-19.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 โ‚ฌ3.83
$6.97 $6.97
-36.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 โ‚ฌ3.91
$9.85 $9.85
-54.01%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 โ‚ฌ1.07
$1.49 $1.49
-16.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 โ‚ฌ1.75
$4.96 $4.96
-59.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.71
$3.32 $3.32
-40.36%
Eggs
$3.46 โ‚ฌ2.99
$4.78 $4.78
-27.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.32 โ‚ฌ15.82
$14.61 $14.61
25.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 โ‚ฌ8.47
$15.34 $15.34
-35.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 โ‚ฌ16.61
$22.18 $22.18
-13.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 โ‚ฌ2.25
$6 $6
-56.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 โ‚ฌ2.02
$2.18 $2.18
7.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 โ‚ฌ1.82
$5 $5
-57.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 โ‚ฌ2.39
$6.47 $6.47
-57.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 โ‚ฌ1.76
$3.6 $3.6
-43.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 โ‚ฌ1.53
$4.45 $4.45
-60.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.5 โ‚ฌ1.3
$2.75 $2.75
-45.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 โ‚ฌ0.73
$2.74 $2.74
-68.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7 โ‚ฌ6.04
$11.16 $11.16
-37.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 โ‚ฌ6.16
$13.76 $13.76
-48.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.24
$1.77 $1.77
-19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.98
$3.43 $3.43
-33.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 โ‚ฌ2.6
$4.37 $4.37
-30.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.97 โ‚ฌ25.01
$66.5 $66.5
-56.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 โ‚ฌ3.96
$3.54 $3.54
29.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.74
$1.93 $1.93
4.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.56 โ‚ฌ25.53
$30.31 $30.31
-2.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 โ‚ฌ1.56
$1.24 $1.24
45.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K โ‚ฌ33.1K
$30K $30K
28.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K โ‚ฌ28K
$26.3K $26.3K
23.15%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 โ‚ฌ164
$257 $257
-26.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.18 โ‚ฌ19.15
$47.84 $47.84
-53.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37 โ‚ฌ31.4
$63.5 $63.5
-42.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 โ‚ฌ49.55
$94.4 $94.4
-39.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.95 โ‚ฌ18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.8 โ‚ฌ9.33
$15.8 $15.8
-31.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$732 โ‚ฌ632
$1,987 $1,987
-63.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K โ‚ฌ13.1K
$26K $26K
-41.82%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.8 โ‚ฌ74.9
$53.8 $53.8
61.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 โ‚ฌ31.76
$29.65 $29.65
24.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 โ‚ฌ88.2
$86.8 $86.8
17.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 โ‚ฌ101
$125 $125
-6.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 โ‚ฌ1,365
$2,795 $2,795
-43.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 โ‚ฌ1,062
$2,869 $2,869
-57.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,707 โ‚ฌ2,337
$5,762 $5,762
-53.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 โ‚ฌ1,751
$5,478 $5,478
-62.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,602 โ‚ฌ5,700
$3,115 $3,115
111.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,045 โ‚ฌ4,356
$2,308 $2,308
118.64%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,198 โ‚ฌ1,898
$7,443 $7,443
-70.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
6.32
-46.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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