Cost of Living Comparison Between San Mateo, CA and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between San Mateo, CA and Barcelona

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 19.3% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 91.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 40.5% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 94.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.55 $20.55
$17.41 โ‚ฌ15.03
18.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3 $65.3
$68.7 โ‚ฌ59.3
-4.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 $11.69
$13.71 โ‚ฌ11.84
-14.73%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$2.78 โ‚ฌ2.4
82.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.8 โ‚ฌ2.42
13.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.71
23.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.43 โ‚ฌ3.83
57.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$4.53 โ‚ฌ3.91
117.44%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.24 โ‚ฌ1.07
20.16%
White Bread (500g)
$4.96 $4.96
$2.03 โ‚ฌ1.75
144.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.71
67.68%
Eggs
$4.78 $4.78
$3.46 โ‚ฌ2.99
38.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$18.32 โ‚ฌ15.82
-20.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.34 $15.34
$9.82 โ‚ฌ8.47
56.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.18 $22.18
$19.24 โ‚ฌ16.61
15.28%
Apples (1kg)
$6 $6
$2.61 โ‚ฌ2.25
129.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.34 โ‚ฌ2.02
-6.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$5 $5
$2.11 โ‚ฌ1.82
136.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$2.77 โ‚ฌ2.39
133.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$2.04 โ‚ฌ1.76
76.47%
Onion (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$1.77 โ‚ฌ1.53
151.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.5 โ‚ฌ1.3
83.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$0.85 โ‚ฌ0.73
222.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16 $11.16
$7 โ‚ฌ6.04
59.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 $13.76
$7.13 โ‚ฌ6.16
92.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.24
23.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.98
49.78%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.02 โ‚ฌ2.6
44.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 $66.5
$28.97 โ‚ฌ25.01
129.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.59 โ‚ฌ3.96
-22.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.74
-4.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.31 $30.31
$29.56 โ‚ฌ25.53
2.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.81 โ‚ฌ1.56
-31.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$38.4K โ‚ฌ33.1K
-21.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$32.4K โ‚ฌ28K
-18.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 $257
$190 โ‚ฌ164
35.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.84 $47.84
$22.18 โ‚ฌ19.15
115.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 $63.5
$36.37 โ‚ฌ31.4
74.54%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.4 $94.4
$57.4 โ‚ฌ49.55
64.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.95 โ‚ฌ18.09
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.8 $15.8
$10.8 โ‚ฌ9.33
46.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,987 $1,987
$732 โ‚ฌ632
171.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$15.1K โ‚ฌ13.1K
71.89%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$86.8 โ‚ฌ74.9
-37.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65 $29.65
$36.78 โ‚ฌ31.76
-19.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 $86.8
$102 โ‚ฌ88.2
-15.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 $125
$117 โ‚ฌ101
6.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$1,581 โ‚ฌ1,365
76.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,869 $2,869
$1,230 โ‚ฌ1,062
133.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,762 $5,762
$2,707 โ‚ฌ2,337
112.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,478 $5,478
$2,028 โ‚ฌ1,751
170.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,115 $3,115
$6,602 โ‚ฌ5,700
-52.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,308 $2,308
$5,045 โ‚ฌ4,356
-54.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Mateo, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,443 $7,443
$2,198 โ‚ฌ1,898
238.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
3.39
86.43%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

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