Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and CalellaCost of Living Comparison Between Malaga and Calella
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,078 per month in Malaga vs $1,641 in Calella, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,990 per month in Malaga vs $2,426 in Calella, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,901 per month in Malaga vs $3,211 in Calella, rent included.
😐Malaga costs about 27% more than Calella, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Malaga and Calella sit above the global median – Malaga by 51%, Calella by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.11
$15.14€13.01
16.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9€60.9
$57.7€49.58
22.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€9.96
$8.22€7.07
41.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.44
$2.51€2.16
12.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.42
$2.52€2.16
11.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.85€1.59
16.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52€3.03
$3.58€3.07
-1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.94
$3.48€2.99
31.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$1.19€1.03
5.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.25
$2.09€1.80
-30.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$3.00€2.58
-38.33%
Eggs
$3.58€3.08
$3.19€2.74
12.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.27€13.12
$15.13€13.00
0.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.46€7.27
$8.39€7.21
0.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.76€13.54
$15.82€13.60
-0.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.59€2.22
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.04€1.76
-4.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.66€1.42
6.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62€2.25
$2.57€2.21
1.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54€1.33
$1.87€1.61
-17.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.94€1.67
13.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.08
$1.55€1.34
-18.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.59
$0.64€0.55
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66€5.73
$6.94€5.97
-4.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44€5.54
$5.95€5.11
8.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$1.07€0.92
10.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$2.47€2.12
-4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaga
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.42
$1.45€1.25
13.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.34€24.35
$38.89€33.42
-27.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00€1.72
$4.67€4.01
-57.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21€1.04
$1.37€1.18
-11.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.34€20.06
$15.04€12.92
55.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.54
$1.73€1.49
4.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K€31.4K
$40.9K€35.2K
-10.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K€25.8K
$32.9K€28.2K
-8.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161€138
$119€102
35.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.84€9.32
$14.06€12.08
-22.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.61€22.87
$26.67€22.92
-0.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.32€38.94
$51.2€43.96
-11.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10€16.41
$16.09€13.83
18.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.68
$8.57€7.36
17.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$855€735
$574€493
48.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,962
$10.4K€8,897
0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6€78.7
$64.8€55.7
41.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€34.50
$21.86€18.78
83.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3€75.0
$117€101
-25.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110€94.4
$162€140
-32.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaga
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,341
$917€788
70.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,039€892
$698€600
48.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,595€2,230
$1,400€1,203
85.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,645€1,414
$1,055€906
55.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,085€4,370
$3,531€3,034
44.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,965€2,548
$2,642€2,270
12.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaga
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,931€1,660
$1,779€1,528
8.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
3.3
0.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaga: September 7, 2026
Last update for Calella: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,560 in Malaga versus $917 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 9% 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 $71.0 in Malaga versus $58.0 in Calella. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Malaga vs $283 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 27%, 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 $3,117 per month in Malaga and $2,462 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 37% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $855 per month in Malaga and $574 in Calella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Malaga or in Calella?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Malaga at $2,078. 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.