Comparison
Caterelo vs Expatistan — quick cost compare vs full decision platform.
Expatistan is best at one thing: quick 2-city cost-of-living comparison. Caterelo is broader: regional comparison + climate + healthcare + decision tools + visa/tax intelligence. Use Expatistan for cost lookups, Caterelo for relocation decisions.
01Comparison
| Feature | Caterelo | Expatistan |
|---|
| Geographic focus | Southern EU (90 regions) | Worldwide (~2,000 cities) |
| Granularity | Regional + city | City only |
| 2-city cost compare | ● Yes (Comparator) | ● Core feature, fastest |
| Multi-dimensional comparison | ● 13 signals | ◐ Cost only |
| Climate signals | ● Current + 2050 | ○ Not provided |
| Healthcare scoring | ● Quality, emergency, cost | ○ Not provided |
| Safety scores | ● Yes | ○ Not provided |
| Schools / family signals | ● Yes | ○ Not provided |
| Visa pathway tools | ● 18 pathways | ○ Not provided |
| Tax regime intelligence | ● Yes | ○ Not provided |
| Decision quiz | ● 15-question, weighted | ○ Not provided |
| Pricing | Free (paid: €19 pack per Spanish listing check) | Free + paid pro tier |
02Where Expatistan wins
- Speed — fastest tool for "is X more expensive than Y" lookups
- Worldwide coverage — 2,000+ cities globally
- Mature data — long-running, broad user base, lots of contributions
- Salary calculator — "what salary do I need in X to maintain my Y lifestyle"
03Where Caterelo wins
- Beyond cost — climate, healthcare, safety, schools, lifestyle, education
- Regional granularity — Andalucia, Sicily, Algarve as distinct entities (Expatistan is city-only)
- Decision tools — Quiz, Comparator with 4 tabs, Visa Wizard, Tax Counter, Lifetime Cost
- Long-term focus — Climate to 2050, lifetime cost scenarios
- Methodology transparency — official sources documented (read)
04Use Caterelo if...
- You're making a long-term relocation decision (not just price-checking)
- You need to evaluate beyond cost (climate, family, work, lifestyle)
- You want decision tools (quiz, calculators, visa wizard)
- You're considering Southern European destinations
05Use Expatistan if...
- You need fast cost-of-living comparison globally
- Your job is "what salary do I need in X" type calculations
- You're doing global comparison (not just EU)
- Cost is your only criterion
06Use both
Quick workflow: Expatistan for "is City A cheaper than City B globally" → Caterelo for full evaluation once narrowed to Southern EU regions.
FAQFrequently asked
Is Expatistan accurate?
Generally yes for cost data — long-running crowd-sourced platform with broad coverage. For multi-dimensional decisions (not just cost), other tools add value.
Why is Caterelo only Southern Europe?
Focus = depth. 90 regions × 13 signals × 60+ official sources is only achievable with bounded scope.
Best free tool for relocation decisions?
Caterelo's free tier covers most regions + comparator. Expatistan's free tier is generous for cost. Numbeo free for crowd-sourced data. Use combination.