Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,477 in Maui, HI versus $2,341 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,252 in Maui, HI versus $3,462 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,027 in Maui, HI versus $4,582 in Barcelona.

Living in Maui, HI is roughly 91% more expensive than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Maui, HI 234% above, Barcelona 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.27 $30.27
$17.61 €15.08
71.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 $109
$68.7 €58.8
58.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$13.75 €11.77
9.38%
Cappuccino
$6.39 $6.39
$2.76 €2.36
131.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.78 €2.38
-3.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.05 €1.75
33.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.15 $8.15
$4.61 €3.94
76.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 $8.20
$4.59 €3.93
78.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.28 €1.10
55.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.11 €1.81
60.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.67 $8.67
$1.97 €1.69
340.10%
Eggs
$8.80 $8.80
$3.44 €2.95
155.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$18.83 €16.12
-35.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.18 $15.18
$9.45 €8.09
60.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.44 $22.44
$19.01 €16.27
18.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.72 €2.33
84.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.37 €2.03
-9.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.08 €1.78
110.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.76 €2.36
65.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.97 €1.69
45.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.79 €1.53
58.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.51 €1.29
31.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.76 $3.76
$0.90 €0.77
317.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.54 $9.54
$6.76 €5.79
41.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.62 $19.62
$7.55 €6.46
159.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.44 €1.23
18.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.41 €2.06
39.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.03 €2.59
12.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.6 $98.6
$28.39 €24.30
247.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$4.43 €3.79
-19.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.05 €1.76
-56.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.67 $29.67
$29.33 €25.11
1.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.89 €1.62
-32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K $38.0K
$38.7K €33.2K
-1.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$32.4K €27.7K
-12.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$396 $396
$189 €161
110.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$22.21 €19.01
182.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.7 $73.7
$36.82 €31.52
100.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.54 $29.54
$58.0 €49.64
-49.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99 €17.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$11.05 €9.46
33.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,667 $1,667
$726 €622
129.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K $16.5K
$15.2K €13.0K
8.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 $88.8
$88.3 €75.6
0.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 $55.9
$36.98 €31.66
51.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 $131
$103 €87.8
27.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196 $196
$119 €102
64.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,273 $2,273
$1,526 €1,307
48.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 $2,603
$1,218 €1,043
113.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,525 $4,525
$2,794 €2,392
61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,776 $3,776
$2,027 €1,735
86.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,696 $2,696
$7,094 €6,073
-62.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,378 $2,378
$4,849 €4,151
-50.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,649 $5,649
$2,404 €2,058
134.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
3.39
96.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maui, HI: April 25, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,273 in Maui, HI and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maui, HI pays 135% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $109 in Maui, HI vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $503 vs $320 per month, with Barcelona 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
Maui, HI vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maui, HI and Barcelona?
Maui, HI and Barcelona differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($4,477 vs $2,341 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Maui, HI or Barcelona?
Maui, HI pays 135% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Maui, HI and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,273 in Maui, HI versus $1,526 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 Maui, HI and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,667 in Maui, HI versus $726 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 57% higher in Maui, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,341 in Barcelona versus $4,477 in Maui, HI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Maui, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maui, HI and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maui, HI or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maui, HI 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: Maui, HI or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Maui, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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