Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and CalellaCost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and Calella
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,784 per month in Malaga vs $1,367 in Calella, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Malaga vs $2,164 in Calella, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,590 per month in Malaga vs $2,961 in Calella, rent included.
😐Malaga costs about 31% more than Calella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malaga and Calella sit above the global median – Malaga by 34%, Calella by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.96€12.28
$11.62€10.21
20.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8€55.2
$34.79€30.58
80.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28€8.16
$9.04€7.94
2.65%
Cappuccino
$2.37€2.08
$1.41€1.24
68.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.06
$1.71€1.50
36.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.65
$1.66€1.46
13.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53€3.11
$3.49€3.07
1.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44€3.91
$2.37€2.09
87.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.06
$1.29€1.13
-6.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33€1.17
$2.04€1.80
-34.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.52
$1.61€1.41
7.45%
Eggs
$2.71€2.38
$2.85€2.51
-4.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.86€13.06
$14.37€12.64
3.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.48€6.58
$9.12€8.02
-17.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.11€12.40
$17.72€15.57
-20.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.19
$3.27€2.88
-23.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$2.86€2.52
-34.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63€1.44
$2.85€2.51
-42.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33€2.05
$2.98€2.62
-21.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.39€1.22
28.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.73
$1.49€1.31
32.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15€1.01
$1.48€1.30
-22.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.63
$0.75€0.66
-4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.60€5.81
$5.68€4.99
16.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09€5.36
$5.76€5.06
5.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.03
$2.10€1.85
-44.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.15
$2.07€1.82
17.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaga
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.44
$2.98€2.62
-44.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.77€26.17
$33.67€29.60
-11.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.71€4.14
$3.97€3.49
18.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05€0.92
$2.04€1.80
-48.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.71€25.24
$22.19€19.51
29.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.54
$1.52€1.34
15.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€34.1K
$37.9K€33.3K
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K€26.8K
$30.0K€26.4K
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€119
$123€108
10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50€15.38
$20.30€17.84
-13.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.90€26.28
$36.89€32.43
-18.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.89€41.22
$46.02€40.46
1.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41€14.43
$17.11€15.04
-4.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55€9.27
$9.13€8.03
15.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454€399
$330€290
37.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0K€8,802
$6,877€6,046
45.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6€71.7
$93.7€82.4
-12.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60€34.82
$34.29€30.14
15.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3€77.7
$79.0€69.5
11.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€101
$102€89.3
12.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaga
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,204€1,059
$638€561
88.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$870€765
$427€375
103.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,082€1,831
$1,342€1,180
55.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,523€1,339
$1,006€884
51.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,995€4,391
$3,771€3,315
32.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,901€2,550
$2,034€1,789
42.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,966€1,728
$1,744€1,533
12.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
3.75
-7.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaga: July 21, 2026
Last update for Calella: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,204 in Malaga versus $638 in Calella. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 13% higher in Malaga, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Malaga versus $35.00 in Calella. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Malaga vs $301 in Calella – 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 – Malaga is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,676 per month in Malaga and $2,050 in Calella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 13% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $454 per month in Malaga and $330 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 living in Malaga or in Calella?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,367, than in Malaga at $1,784. 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 – 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 – 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.