Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Barcelona versus $783 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,269 in Barcelona versus $1,303 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,749 in Barcelona versus $1,823 in Maracaibo.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1% more expensive than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barcelona 43% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 VES 7,970

$10.44 VES 8,665

-8.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.35 VES 26.0K

$40.65 VES 33.8K

-22.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 VES 7,604

$9.04 VES 7,510

1.33%

Cappuccino

$2.95 VES 2,449

$2.67 VES 2,219

10.49%

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

$1.02 VES 844

$1.14 VES 944

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 VES 577

$1.33 VES 1,106

-47.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 VES 818

$2.24 VES 1,858

-56.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 VES 1,702

$2.92 VES 2,428

-29.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 VES 1,396

$1.78 VES 1,476

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 VES 1,275

$2.11 VES 1,750

-27.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 VES 1,251

$1.03 VES 856

46.60%

Eggs

$3.42 VES 2,839

$3.73 VES 3,101

-8.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 VES 4,243

$6.70 VES 5,560

-23.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 VES 5,576

$6.47 VES 5,370

3.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 VES 6,151

$7.47 VES 6,199

-0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,580

$4.72 VES 3,916

-8.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 VES 1,173

$1.37 VES 1,135

2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 1,421

$1.55 VES 1,290

10.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,674

$1.41 VES 1,174

43.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 VES 1,163

$1.23 VES 1,021

13.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 VES 1,149

$1.75 VES 1,449

-21.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 VES 1,504

$0.98 VES 810

84.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 VES 1,473

$2.03 VES 1,684

-12.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 VES 3,280

$2.97 VES 2,464

33.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 VES 10.1K

$8.97 VES 7,447

35.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 VES 1,020

$1.09 VES 903

12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 VES 1,979

$2.61 VES 2,171

-8.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 VES 483

$0.43 VES 360

34.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.68 VES 16.3K

$41.84 VES 34.7K

-52.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 VES 4,031

$4.11 VES 3,416

18.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 VES 925

$2.04 VES 1,692

-45.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.02 VES 12.5K

$17.34 VES 14.4K

-13.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 400

$0.66 VES 546

-27.27%

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

$23.0K VES 19.1M

$14.9K VES 12.4M

54.23%

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

$40.1K VES 33.3M

$28.5K VES 23.7M

40.90%

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

$40.12 VES 33.3K

$63.0 VES 52.3K

-36.32%

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

$14.90 VES 12.4K

$7.31 VES 6,072

103.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.90 VES 36.5K

$25.06 VES 20.8K

75.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.38 VES 25.2K

$33.94 VES 28.2K

-10.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 12.6K

$28.21 VES 23.4K

-46.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 VES 5,676

$5.07 VES 4,211

34.91%

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

$65.5 VES 54.4K

$153 VES 127.0K

-57.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,201 VES 6.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.16 VES 38.3K

$27.67 VES 23.0K

66.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.68 VES 34.6K

$32.17 VES 26.7K

29.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 VES 53.7K

$61.3 VES 50.9K

5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 VES 47.0K

$57.5 VES 47.8K

-1.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 VES 166.3K

$162 VES 134.8K

23.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 VES 93.6K

$93.1 VES 77.3K

21.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 VES 311.9K

$298 VES 247.4K

26.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 VES 232.7K

$197 VES 163.4K

42.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$418 VES 346.7K

$743 VES 616.6K

-43.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$236 VES 195.9K

$506 VES 420.6K

-53.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 VES 189.5K

$200 VES 166.3K

13.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.12

15.60%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Barcelona and $162 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 14% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $242 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 Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracaibo wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maracaibo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $200 in Barcelona versus $162 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Maracaibo – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $31.00 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Barcelona versus $783 in Maracaibo – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maracaibo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.