πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,060 in Maltepe versus $2,336 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,688 in Maltepe versus $3,475 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,316 in Maltepe versus $4,614 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Maltepe costs roughly 55% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Maltepe is 21% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.21βΊ504
$17.45β¬14.88
-35.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.72βΊ1,336
$69.8β¬59.6
-57.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.27βΊ282
$13.91β¬11.86
-54.92%
Cappuccino
$2.42βΊ109
$2.74β¬2.34
-11.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99βΊ44.36
$2.70β¬2.30
-63.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37βΊ16.50
$2.03β¬1.73
-81.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06βΊ92.4
$4.51β¬3.85
-54.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57βΊ115
$4.61β¬3.93
-44.25%
π Groceries & Markets
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00βΊ45.15
$1.28β¬1.09
-21.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67βΊ30.13
$2.10β¬1.79
-68.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18βΊ98.1
$1.99β¬1.70
9.55%
Eggs
$2.25βΊ101
$3.45β¬2.95
-34.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25βΊ416
$18.61β¬15.87
-50.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.92βΊ221
$9.41β¬8.03
-47.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.98βΊ898
$18.70β¬15.95
6.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45βΊ65.4
$2.61β¬2.22
-44.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17βΊ97.4
$2.39β¬2.04
-9.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32βΊ59.5
$2.19β¬1.86
-39.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58βΊ71.1
$2.81β¬2.40
-43.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71βΊ31.76
$2.03β¬1.73
-65.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73βΊ32.71
$1.87β¬1.60
-60.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68βΊ30.54
$1.45β¬1.24
-53.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62βΊ27.83
$0.92β¬0.79
-32.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22βΊ99.9
$6.82β¬5.82
-67.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.27βΊ506
$7.71β¬6.58
46.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21βΊ99.5
$1.38β¬1.18
60.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16βΊ142
$2.33β¬1.99
35.62%
π Getting Around
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63βΊ28.20
$2.88β¬2.46
-78.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.91βΊ1,345
$29.04β¬24.77
3.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06βΊ47.63
$4.43β¬3.78
-76.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58βΊ26.20
$2.14β¬1.82
-72.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.81βΊ396
$28.96β¬24.71
-69.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15βΊ51.9
$1.90β¬1.62
-39.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.5KβΊ2.1M
$37.9Kβ¬32.3K
22.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.0KβΊ2.0M
$33.3Kβ¬28.4K
32.18%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.7βΊ2,820
$186β¬158
-66.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.45βΊ515
$22.17β¬18.91
-48.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.74βΊ573
$36.52β¬31.15
-65.12%
π Sport & Entertainment
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.74βΊ1,966
$58.4β¬49.81
-25.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.75β¬17.70
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.72βΊ347
$11.10β¬9.47
-30.45%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$959βΊ43.1K
$705β¬601
36.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,926βΊ266.4K
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
-61.04%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.80βΊ1,789
$86.4β¬73.7
-53.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.07βΊ2,116
$36.88β¬31.46
27.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.7βΊ2,593
$104β¬88.8
-44.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107βΊ4,832
$115β¬98.4
-6.84%
π Accommodation & Living
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$522βΊ23.5K
$1,538β¬1,312
-66.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$387βΊ17.4K
$1,242β¬1,060
-68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$905βΊ40.7K
$2,728β¬2,327
-66.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$722βΊ32.5K
$2,011β¬1,716
-64.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,427βΊ64.1K
$7,155β¬6,104
-80.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$988βΊ44.4K
$4,843β¬4,131
-79.61%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Maltepe
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,474β¬2,111
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
32
3.39
843.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maltepe: April 21, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $522 in Maltepe and $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $30 in Maltepe vs $70 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $318 per month, with Maltepe 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
Maltepe vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maltepe and Barcelona?
Maltepe and Barcelona differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($1,060 vs $2,336 including rent). Maltepe is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Maltepe compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,591 in Maltepe and $3,504 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Maltepe and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $522 in Maltepe versus $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maltepe and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $959 in Maltepe versus $705 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,060 in Maltepe versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maltepe but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maltepe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maltepe and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maltepe or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maltepe and Barcelona 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: Maltepe or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Maltepe gentler on the wallet β expenses run 120% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.