Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Barcelona versus $1,313 in Caracas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,274 in Barcelona versus $2,237 in Caracas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,784 in Barcelona versus $3,162 in Caracas.

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 42% less than in Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barcelona 44% lower, Caracas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.41 VES 7,640

$10.86 VES 8,815

-13.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.87 VES 25.1K

$68.5 VES 55.6K

-54.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 VES 7,363

$11.05 VES 8,971

-17.92%

Cappuccino

$3.03 VES 2,457

$3.53 VES 2,862

-14.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 827

$1.49 VES 1,206

-31.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 VES 569

$1.31 VES 1,063

-46.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 VES 821

$2.03 VES 1,647

-50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 VES 1,587

$2.96 VES 2,401

-33.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 VES 1,380

$2.75 VES 2,235

-38.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 VES 1,200

$2.24 VES 1,819

-33.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 VES 1,184

$1.87 VES 1,522

-21.93%

Eggs

$3.35 VES 2,719

$4.76 VES 3,865

-29.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 VES 4,019

$10.01 VES 8,126

-50.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 VES 5,312

$9.11 VES 7,391

-28.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 VES 6,098

$11.24 VES 9,126

-33.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 VES 3,393

$7.11 VES 5,771

-41.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,111

$1.98 VES 1,609

-30.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 VES 1,422

$2.18 VES 1,766

-19.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 VES 1,631

$2.34 VES 1,900

-14.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 VES 1,130

$2.37 VES 1,925

-41.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 VES 1,145

$2.13 VES 1,729

-33.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 VES 1,455

$1.57 VES 1,277

14.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 VES 1,431

$2.41 VES 1,959

-26.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 VES 3,268

$4.67 VES 3,789

-13.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 VES 9,654

$11.92 VES 9,672

-0.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 VES 1,038

$1.36 VES 1,105

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 VES 1,882

$2.05 VES 1,664

13.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 VES 495

$0.52 VES 425

17.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.90 VES 16.2K

$30.55 VES 24.8K

-34.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 VES 4,074

$5.11 VES 4,147

-1.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 VES 903

$2.83 VES 2,295

-60.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.96 VES 12.1K

$15.28 VES 12.4K

-2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 419

$0.83 VES 673

-37.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K VES 18.6M

$25.1K VES 20.4M

-8.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.1K VES 32.6M

$38.5K VES 31.3M

4.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.67 VES 33.0K

$23.11 VES 18.8K

75.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.06 VES 12.2K

$11.85 VES 9,617

27.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.91 VES 34.8K

$36.68 VES 29.8K

16.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.32 VES 24.6K

$67.0 VES 54.4K

-54.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.74 VES 12.0K

$17.84 VES 14.5K

-17.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.15 VES 5,804

$6.59 VES 5,352

8.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$66.2 VES 53.7K

$161 VES 131.0K

-59.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,113 VES 5.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.25 VES 37.5K

$74.5 VES 60.5K

-37.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.15 VES 34.2K

$46.55 VES 37.8K

-9.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 VES 52.2K

$123 VES 99.6K

-47.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 VES 45.1K

$141 VES 114.2K

-60.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 VES 163.0K

$608 VES 493.9K

-67.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 VES 91.6K

$433 VES 351.7K

-73.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 VES 304.9K

$1,104 VES 895.9K

-65.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 VES 224.8K

$866 VES 703.0K

-68.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$418 VES 339.0K

$1,457 VES 1.2M

-71.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$236 VES 191.8K

$681 VES 552.9K

-65.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 VES 190.8K

$303 VES 246.1K

-22.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.12

5.09%

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Barcelona and $608 in Caracas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caracas pays 29% 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: $31.00 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $335 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

Barcelona vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Caracas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Barcelona the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Caracas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Barcelona versus $608 in Caracas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $68.0 in Caracas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $764 per month in Barcelona versus $1,313 in Caracas – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $764 in Barcelona versus $1,313 in Caracas, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Caracas. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.