Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and CalellaCost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and Calella
Monthly Cost of Living
๐A single person spends $1,823 per month in Malaga vs $1,347 in Calella, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,755 per month in Malaga vs $2,152 in Calella, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,687 per month in Malaga vs $2,958 in Calella, rent included.
๐Malaga costs about 35% more than Calella, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Malaga and Calella sit above the global median โ Malaga by 36%, Calella by 0%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.70โฌ11.69
$11.36โฌ9.69
20.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.9
$34.65โฌ29.55
85.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.18โฌ7.83
$9.33โฌ7.96
-1.61%
Cappuccino
$2.36โฌ2.02
$1.38โฌ1.18
71.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37โฌ2.02
$1.78โฌ1.51
33.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82โฌ1.55
$1.64โฌ1.40
10.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43โฌ2.93
$3.40โฌ2.90
0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47โฌ3.81
$2.26โฌ1.93
97.79%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20โฌ1.03
$1.23โฌ1.05
-2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37โฌ1.17
$2.01โฌ1.72
-31.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.59โฌ1.36
7.55%
Eggs
$2.81โฌ2.40
$2.89โฌ2.47
-2.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.23โฌ12.99
$14.15โฌ12.07
7.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.64
$9.21โฌ7.86
-15.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.93โฌ11.89
$17.19โฌ14.66
-18.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.58โฌ2.20
$3.08โฌ2.63
-16.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89โฌ1.61
$2.88โฌ2.45
-34.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$2.87โฌ2.45
-42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45โฌ2.09
$2.98โฌ2.54
-17.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$1.41โฌ1.20
26.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.46โฌ1.25
34.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20โฌ1.02
$1.50โฌ1.28
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77โฌ0.66
$0.76โฌ0.65
1.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53โฌ5.57
$5.70โฌ4.86
14.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19โฌ5.28
$5.30โฌ4.52
16.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22โฌ1.04
$2.09โฌ1.78
-41.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43โฌ2.07
$2.07โฌ1.77
17.39%
๐ Getting Around
Malaga
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65โฌ1.41
$2.82โฌ2.41
-41.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.11โฌ24.83
$33.93โฌ28.94
-14.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.52โฌ3.85
$4.01โฌ3.42
12.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06โฌ0.91
$2.09โฌ1.79
-49.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.91โฌ24.66
$22.15โฌ18.90
30.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80โฌ1.54
$1.57โฌ1.34
14.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9Kโฌ33.1K
$37.6Kโฌ32.1K
3.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kโฌ26.2K
$30.3Kโฌ25.9K
1.20%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135โฌ115
$119โฌ102
13.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.82โฌ15.20
$20.44โฌ17.43
-12.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.38โฌ25.06
$36.87โฌ31.45
-20.31%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.36โฌ41.25
$46.00โฌ39.24
5.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25โฌ13.86
$17.09โฌ14.57
-4.92%
Cinema Ticket
$10.21โฌ8.71
$9.25โฌ7.89
10.38%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453โฌ387
$322โฌ275
40.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3Kโฌ8,787
$7,056โฌ6,019
46.00%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3โฌ67.6
$94.9โฌ81.0
-16.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.24โฌ33.48
$34.59โฌ29.50
13.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6โฌ77.3
$77.4โฌ66.0
17.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114โฌ97.3
$102โฌ87.0
11.81%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Malaga
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,196โฌ1,020
$647โฌ552
84.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$870โฌ742
$442โฌ377
96.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085โฌ1,778
$1,318โฌ1,125
58.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,556โฌ1,328
$1,019โฌ869
52.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,143โฌ4,387
$3,154โฌ2,690
63.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,095โฌ2,640
$2,648โฌ2,259
16.89%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,825โฌ1,557
$1,640โฌ1,399
11.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
3.75
-7.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaga: April 21, 2026
Last update for Calella: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,196 in Malaga versus $647 in Calella. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 11% higher in Malaga, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Malaga versus $35 in Calella. Groceries tell a different story โ $260 in Malaga vs $297 in Calella โ so Malaga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Malaga vs Calella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calella cheaper than Malaga?
Yes โ Malaga is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,735 per month in Malaga and $2,020 in Calella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calella, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 17% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $453 per month in Malaga and $322 in Calella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Malaga or Calella?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,347, than in Malaga at $1,823. In Calella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malaga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Malaga or Calella more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calella โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Malaga or Calella?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malaga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.