Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Arica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,441 per month in Barcelona vs $111 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,477 per month in Barcelona vs $180 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,513 per month in Barcelona vs $249 in Arica, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 2094% more than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Barcelona sits 81% above the global median, while Arica is 92% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.35 €16.13

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 €58.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.75 €12.09

Cappuccino

$3.17 €2.78

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

$2.88 €2.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 €1.71

$1.27 CLP 1,230

53.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 €3.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 €3.95

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.13

$1.01 CLP 972

26.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 €1.82

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 €1.57

Eggs

$5.04 €4.43

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 €15.20

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 €8.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.40 €17.05

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 €2.79

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 €1.84

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 €2.32

Tomato (1kg)

$2.83 €2.49

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 €1.94

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 €1.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 €1.40

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 €0.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.25 €6.38

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 €7.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 €1.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 €2.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 €2.58

$0.73 CLP 710

302.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.97 €22.84

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 €2.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 €1.33

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.08 €29.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 €1.51

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

$36.3K €31.9K

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

$30.6K €26.9K

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

$183 €161

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

$14.76 €12.98

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.68 €32.25

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 €49.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 €14.51

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 €9.93

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

$983 €864

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K €14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.9 €80.8

$41.66 CLP 40.2K

120.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 €35.30

$20.63 CLP 19.9K

94.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 €95.4

$53.6 CLP 51.8K

102.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

$94.8 CLP 91.5K

28.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 €1,485

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 €1,163

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 €2,301

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 €1,691

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 €6,450

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,253 €4,618

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,313 €2,034

$510 CLP 492.3K

353.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

-36.80%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026

Last update for Arica: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 354% higher in Barcelona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona, $111 in Arica – roughly 2094% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,661 per month in Barcelona and $167 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,441 in Barcelona and $111 in Arica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3161% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $111, than in Barcelona at $2,441. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $111 in Arica to $2,441 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barcelona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.