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: $773 in Barcelona versus $1,203 in Caracas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Barcelona versus $1,989 in Caracas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Barcelona versus $2,775 in Caracas.

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 36% less than in Caracas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barcelona 42% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 VES 5,551

$11.99 VES 6,679

-16.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.35 VES 19.7K

$55.1 VES 30.7K

-35.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 VES 4,891

$10.13 VES 5,646

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$3.05 VES 1,699

$2.61 VES 1,457

16.86%

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

$1.02 VES 568

$1.25 VES 699

-18.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 VES 361

$0.98 VES 545

-33.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 VES 570

$1.53 VES 855

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 VES 1,107

$3.06 VES 1,708

-34.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 VES 982

$1.88 VES 1,050

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 VES 817

$2.69 VES 1,500

-45.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 VES 842

$1.43 VES 796

5.59%

Eggs

$3.34 VES 1,864

$2.84 VES 1,585

17.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.89 VES 2,725

$9.69 VES 5,398

-49.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 VES 3,725

$7.66 VES 4,268

-12.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 VES 3,966

$7.70 VES 4,290

-7.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 VES 2,483

$5.24 VES 2,919

-14.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 767

$1.81 VES 1,009

-23.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 VES 990

$2.21 VES 1,229

-19.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 VES 1,121

$2.05 VES 1,140

-1.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 VES 790

$2.69 VES 1,497

-47.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 VES 789

$2.05 VES 1,142

-30.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 VES 999

$1.34 VES 747

33.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 VES 981

$1.87 VES 1,044

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 VES 2,259

$4.08 VES 2,274

-0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 VES 6,561

$10.83 VES 6,033

8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 VES 684

$1.50 VES 837

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 VES 1,274

$2.04 VES 1,137

12.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 VES 341

$0.76 VES 425

-19.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.88 VES 5,504

$30.45 VES 17.0K

-67.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 VES 2,766

$5.03 VES 2,801

-1.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 VES 1,485

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 VES 8,310

$9.91 VES 5,520

50.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 273

$0.48 VES 268

2.08%

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

$28.3K VES 15.8M

$25.2K VES 14.1M

12.33%

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

$45.3K VES 25.3M

$39.5K VES 22.0M

14.67%

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

$40.32 VES 22.5K

$20.26 VES 11.3K

99.01%

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

$15.18 VES 8,457

$13.05 VES 7,271

16.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.61 VES 24.3K

$39.78 VES 22.2K

9.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.68 VES 16.5K

$69.0 VES 38.4K

-56.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 VES 8,515

$15.16 VES 8,446

0.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 VES 3,847

$5.92 VES 3,299

16.55%

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

$79.2 VES 44.1K

$131 VES 73.0K

-39.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,363 VES 3.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.24 VES 25.8K

$64.0 VES 35.7K

-27.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.93 VES 23.4K

$39.66 VES 22.1K

5.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 VES 35.8K

$104 VES 57.8K

-38.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 VES 32.1K

$115 VES 64.1K

-49.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 VES 113.6K

$451 VES 251.1K

-54.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 VES 64.4K

$372 VES 207.3K

-68.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 VES 208.0K

$979 VES 545.3K

-61.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 VES 153.8K

$845 VES 470.8K

-67.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$418 VES 233.2K

$1,450 VES 807.9K

-71.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$237 VES 132.1K

$687 VES 382.7K

-65.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 VES 127.1K

$289 VES 161.0K

-21.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

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

Last update for Barcelona: June 1, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Barcelona and $451 in Caracas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caracas pays 27% 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: $35.00 in Barcelona vs $55.0 in Caracas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $283 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 56% 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, Caracas earns 27% less. 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: $204 in Barcelona versus $451 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 $35.00 versus $55.0 in Caracas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $773 per month in Barcelona versus $1,203 in Caracas – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $773 in Barcelona versus $1,203 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 56% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.