😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,531 in Maui, HI versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,189 in Maui, HI versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,847 in Maui, HI versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Maui, HI is roughly 92% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Maui, HI240% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.42$29.42
$17.15€14.88
71.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108$108
$68.1€59.1
59.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.76$14.76
$13.64€11.84
8.21%
Cappuccino
$6.57$6.57
$2.78€2.41
136.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.82€2.45
-1.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81$2.81
$1.96€1.70
43.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.01$8.01
$4.43€3.84
80.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94$7.94
$4.61€4.00
72.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07$2.07
$1.27€1.11
62.99%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$2.13€1.85
63.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.88$8.88
$1.99€1.72
346.23%
Eggs
$8.58$8.58
$3.37€2.92
154.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.48$12.48
$18.96€16.45
-34.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.38$15.38
$9.53€8.27
61.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.48$22.48
$18.73€16.25
20.02%
Apples(1kg)
$5.03$5.03
$2.65€2.30
89.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$2.35€2.04
-5.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.23$4.23
$2.09€1.81
102.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79$4.79
$2.73€2.37
75.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.96€1.70
45.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$1.81€1.57
54.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00$2.00
$1.51€1.31
32.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.64$3.64
$0.89€0.78
308.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82$9.82
$6.78€5.88
44.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.91$19.91
$7.92€6.87
151.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.37€1.19
23.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23$3.23
$2.40€2.08
34.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52$3.52
$2.91€2.52
20.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.6$99.6
$28.66€24.86
247.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41$3.41
$4.58€3.97
-25.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97$0.97
$2.04€1.77
-52.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.08$29.08
$28.72€24.91
1.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28$1.28
$1.82€1.58
-29.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K$37.0K
$39.3K€34.1K
-5.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K$28.7K
$32.5K€28.2K
-11.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$392$392
$187€162
109.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.8$60.8
$22.29€19.34
172.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.0$73.0
$36.37€31.55
100.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.50$30.50
$57.5€49.91
-46.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74€17.99
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.11$15.11
$10.77€9.34
40.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$725€629
123.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K$16.7K
$15.2K€13.1K
10.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.9$88.9
$87.9€76.2
1.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1$54.1
$36.81€31.94
47.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128$128
$103€89.7
23.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201$201
$119€103
69.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,233$2,233
$1,524€1,322
46.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,677$2,677
$1,227€1,064
118.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,616$4,616
$2,727€2,366
69.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,913$3,913
$1,984€1,721
97.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.3K$14.3K
$7,469€6,480
91.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,164$9,164
$5,243€4,549
74.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maui, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,731$5,731
$2,393€2,076
139.54%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,233 in Maui, HI and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maui, HI pays 140% 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: $108 in Maui, HI vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $507 vs $319 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 in Barcelona?
Maui, HI and Barcelona differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($4,531 vs $2,359 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?
Average pay runs 140% higher in Maui, HI, 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,233 in Maui, HI versus $1,524 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 $1,619 in Maui, HI versus $725 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 59% 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 $2,359 in Barcelona versus $4,531 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 92% less than in Maui, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.