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: $766 in Barcelona versus $745 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Barcelona versus $1,249 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Barcelona versus $1,753 in Maracaibo.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 3% more expensive than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barcelona 43% lower, Maracaibo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 VES 7,284

$10.59 VES 7,784

-6.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.41 VES 26.0K

$40.33 VES 29.6K

-12.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 VES 6,673

$8.79 VES 6,458

3.30%

Cappuccino

$2.95 VES 2,169

$2.75 VES 2,025

7.27%

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

$1.05 VES 773

$1.15 VES 844

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 VES 507

$1.30 VES 956

-46.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 VES 715

$2.20 VES 1,614

-55.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 VES 1,489

$3.03 VES 2,228

-33.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 VES 1,311

$1.72 VES 1,266

3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 VES 1,077

$2.01 VES 1,476

-27.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 VES 1,068

$1.11 VES 817

30.63%

Eggs

$3.30 VES 2,427

$3.04 VES 2,236

8.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.90 VES 3,601

$5.90 VES 4,335

-16.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 VES 4,786

$5.27 VES 3,874

23.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.20 VES 5,296

$6.34 VES 4,657

13.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 VES 3,275

$4.31 VES 3,166

3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 VES 1,052

$1.37 VES 1,007

4.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 VES 1,289

$1.68 VES 1,238

4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,485

$1.48 VES 1,084

36.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 VES 986

$1.17 VES 861

14.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 VES 1,001

$1.69 VES 1,241

-19.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 VES 1,373

$0.99 VES 726

88.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 VES 1,254

$1.63 VES 1,202

4.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 VES 2,870

$3.44 VES 2,529

13.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.03 VES 8,845

$9.27 VES 6,814

29.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 VES 934

$1.07 VES 783

18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 VES 1,746

$2.65 VES 1,946

-10.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 VES 459

$0.49 VES 358

26.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.07 VES 7,399

$42.21 VES 31.0K

-76.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 VES 3,719

$3.90 VES 2,866

29.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.27 VES 11.2K

$17.73 VES 13.0K

-13.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 355

$0.52 VES 380

-7.69%

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

$28.5K VES 20.9M

$22.8K VES 16.8M

24.73%

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

$44.7K VES 32.9M

$31.2K VES 22.9M

43.29%

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

$40.17 VES 29.5K

$16.36 VES 12.0K

145.54%

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

$15.28 VES 11.2K

$8.61 VES 6,328

77.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.79 VES 32.2K

$25.41 VES 18.7K

72.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.31 VES 22.3K

$34.13 VES 25.1K

-11.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.15 VES 11.1K

$23.62 VES 17.4K

-35.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 VES 5,247

$4.97 VES 3,650

43.66%

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

$80.5 VES 59.2K

$111 VES 81.7K

-27.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.76 VES 34.4K

$41.23 VES 30.3K

13.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.32 VES 31.8K

$41.87 VES 30.8K

3.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 VES 47.4K

$58.7 VES 43.1K

9.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 VES 41.0K

$59.6 VES 43.8K

-6.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 VES 146.7K

$181 VES 132.7K

10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 VES 85.6K

$102 VES 75.1K

13.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 VES 272.9K

$327 VES 240.4K

13.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 VES 202.1K

$213 VES 156.3K

29.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$418 VES 307.4K

$763 VES 561.2K

-45.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$238 VES 175.1K

$497 VES 365.6K

-52.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$233 VES 171.0K

$198 VES 145.8K

17.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

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

Last update for Barcelona: July 12, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Barcelona and $181 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 17% 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 $40.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $220, with Maracaibo cheaper for home cooking.

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 3% 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 17% 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 $181 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 $40.00 versus $35.00 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Barcelona versus $745 in Maracaibo – a 3% 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 3% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.