Side by side
Each place uses its own local data. National rules (economy, geopolitical stability, governance, tax & finance) are the same for both, so they cannot separate them. Neither wins everywhere; the tradeoffs below are what matter.
All about CataluñaAll about MataróChange a place
Data as of
Region
Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees in one region, with its own language, food and festivals.
21st of 34 European metro regions
City · Cataluña
A working Maresme coast city of textile history and long beaches, half an hour of commuter rail from Barcelona.
67th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000
Cataluña is a region and Mataró a city. Each figure is that place’s own; scores compare each with its own peers (regions with regions, cities with cities), so read them side by side rather than as a contest.
Watch out: Housing that is dear and tight around Barcelona and the best-known coast; Petty theft in Barcelona and the resort towns and some of the highest regional taxes.
Watch out: Recorded crime that is high with a lot of theft and street robbery; A railway line that cuts the town from its own beach.
Of 14 figures both publish in the same unit, Cataluña is better on 4 and Mataró on 6; the rest are close or have no better direction.
| Figure | Cataluña | Mataró | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Rent per m² | €9.8 a month2024 | €8.9 a month2024 | Cataluña 10% higher |
| Rent for a 70 m² flat | €689 a month2024 | €625 a month2024 | Cataluña 10% higher |
| Typical rent, existing lease | €700 a month2024 | €669 a month2024 | Cataluña 5% higher |
| Typical rent, new lease | €861 a monthQ1 2026 | €812 a monthQ1 2026 | Cataluña 6% higher |
| Rents, change in a year | 3.1%2024 | 3.1%2024 | about the same |
| Buying price per m² | €2,753Q2 2026 | €2,549Q2 2026 | Cataluña 8% higher |
| Price of an 80 m² flat | €220,232Q2 2026 | €203,952Q2 2026 | Cataluña 8% higher |
| House prices, change in a year | 10.1%Q2 2026 | 12.8%Q2 2026 | Cataluña 2.7 pts lower |
| Money & work | |||
| Unemployment | 8.4%2025 | 9.8%2025 | Cataluña 1.4 pts lower |
| Safety | |||
| Recorded crime | 61.0 per 1,000 people2025 | 71.1 per 1,000 people2024 | Cataluña 14% lower |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.3 years2024 | 83.7 years2023 | about the same |
| Education | |||
| Adults with a university degree | 47%2025 | 38%2024 | Cataluña 9.0 pts higher |
| People | |||
| Population | 8,124,1262025 | 131,6832025 | Cataluña 61.7× |
| Who lives here | |||
| Residents born abroad | 25.1%2025 | 22.1%2025 | Cataluña 3.0 pts higher |
Data through Jun 2026 (Cataluña) and Jun 2026 (Mataró). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.