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: $773 in Barcelona versus $734 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,277 in Barcelona versus $1,244 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Barcelona versus $1,754 in Maracaibo.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 5% more expensive than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barcelona 42% lower, Maracaibo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 VES 5,551

$10.37 VES 5,777

-3.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.35 VES 19.7K

$39.97 VES 22.3K

-11.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 VES 4,891

$8.82 VES 4,915

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$3.05 VES 1,699

$2.65 VES 1,476

15.09%

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

$1.02 VES 568

$1.20 VES 671

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 VES 361

$1.30 VES 724

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 VES 570

$2.32 VES 1,290

-56.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 VES 1,107

$2.95 VES 1,643

-32.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 VES 982

$1.79 VES 996

-1.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 VES 817

$1.94 VES 1,080

-24.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 VES 842

$1.09 VES 607

38.53%

Eggs

$3.34 VES 1,864

$3.19 VES 1,775

4.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.89 VES 2,725

$5.95 VES 3,318

-17.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 VES 3,725

$5.39 VES 3,003

24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 VES 3,966

$6.08 VES 3,386

17.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 VES 2,483

$4.51 VES 2,513

-1.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 767

$1.38 VES 769

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 VES 990

$1.71 VES 954

4.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 VES 1,121

$1.47 VES 820

36.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 VES 790

$1.16 VES 649

22.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 VES 789

$1.62 VES 905

-12.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 VES 999

$1.01 VES 564

77.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 VES 981

$1.60 VES 889

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 VES 2,259

$3.43 VES 1,914

18.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 VES 6,561

$8.97 VES 4,997

31.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 VES 684

$1.06 VES 591

16.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 VES 1,274

$2.64 VES 1,473

-13.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 VES 341

$0.51 VES 287

19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.88 VES 5,504

$41.83 VES 23.3K

-76.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 VES 2,766

$4.11 VES 2,290

20.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,087

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 VES 8,310

$17.77 VES 9,900

-16.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 VES 273

$0.48 VES 269

2.08%

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

$28.3K VES 15.8M

$22.2K VES 12.4M

27.62%

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

$45.3K VES 25.3M

$31.0K VES 17.3M

46.23%

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

$40.32 VES 22.5K

$16.22 VES 9,038

148.58%

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

$15.18 VES 8,457

$9.02 VES 5,028

68.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.61 VES 24.3K

$25.85 VES 14.4K

68.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.68 VES 16.5K

$34.34 VES 19.1K

-13.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 VES 8,515

$23.43 VES 13.1K

-34.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 VES 3,847

$5.04 VES 2,807

36.90%

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

$79.2 VES 44.1K

$112 VES 62.5K

-29.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.24 VES 25.8K

$41.75 VES 23.3K

10.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.93 VES 23.4K

$42.17 VES 23.5K

-0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 VES 35.8K

$57.8 VES 32.2K

11.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 VES 32.1K

$60.3 VES 33.6K

-4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 VES 113.6K

$180 VES 100.5K

13.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 VES 64.4K

$101 VES 56.0K

14.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 VES 208.0K

$330 VES 183.7K

13.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 VES 153.8K

$209 VES 116.6K

31.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$418 VES 233.2K

$759 VES 423.0K

-44.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$237 VES 132.1K

$502 VES 279.5K

-52.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 VES 127.1K

$196 VES 109.5K

16.07%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Barcelona and $180 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 16% 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 $221, 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 5% 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.

Barcelona pays 16% more on average, 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: $204 in Barcelona versus $180 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 $773 per month in Barcelona versus $734 in Maracaibo – a 5% 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 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.