Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Barquisimeto Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Barquisimeto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $861 in Barquisimeto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $1,472 in Barquisimeto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $2,083 in Barquisimeto.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 190% more expensive than in Barquisimeto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Barquisimeto is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39 €15.83
$9.95 VES 8,078
84.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.6
$49.50 VES 40.2K
39.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.13 €12.16
$11.52 VES 9,350
22.66%
Cappuccino
$3.13 €2.70
$1.72 VES 1,393
81.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$1.52 VES 1,236
98.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.69
$1.15 VES 932
70.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.00 €3.44
$1.28 VES 1,038
212.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.10
$3.36 VES 2,724
41.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.07
$2.98 VES 2,420
-58.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.86
$2.37 VES 1,921
-8.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$2.14 VES 1,734
-21.03%
Eggs
$4.93 €4.25
$3.27 VES 2,657
50.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.39
$7.85 VES 6,375
127.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 €8.27
$9.03 VES 7,331
6.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 €16.65
$10.65 VES 8,647
81.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 €2.79
$4.59 VES 3,730
-29.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.87
$2.02 VES 1,637
7.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$0.74 VES 597
260.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.39
$0.92 VES 746
201.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.91
$0.95 VES 775
132.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 €1.88
$1.35 VES 1,095
62.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.31
$0.65 VES 529
133.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.79
$1.61 VES 1,309
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 €6.13
$2.92 VES 2,368
143.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.14 €7.00
$11.82 VES 9,590
-31.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.25 VES 1,018
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$2.81 VES 2,284
-1.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.71
$0.40 VES 324
687.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.99 €23.24
$39.68 VES 32.2K
-31.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 €2.80
$4.96 VES 4,026
-34.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.54 VES 2,063
-40.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.89 €30.04
$15.22 VES 12.4K
129.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.50
$0.75 VES 611
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.6K
$25.1K VES 20.4M
45.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K €26.6K
$31.3K VES 25.4M
-1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €162
$15.36 VES 12.5K
1121.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44 €13.29
$7.87 VES 6,386
96.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80 €32.54
$36.72 VES 29.8K
2.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 €49.22
$33.48 VES 27.2K
70.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 €14.46
$8.72 VES 7,081
92.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 €9.97
$5.05 VES 4,100
129.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,003 €863
$56.4 VES 45.8K
1678.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K €14.6K
$494 VES 401.1K
3343.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2 €76.8
$46.83 VES 38.0K
90.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87 €35.18
$39.74 VES 32.3K
2.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €94.7
$103 VES 83.5K
6.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €106
$81.5 VES 66.1K
50.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 €1,440
$213 VES 173.2K
683.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 €1,146
$142 VES 115.3K
837.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,596 €2,234
$464 VES 376.7K
459.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 €1,679
$322 VES 261.2K
506.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,573 €6,519
$474 VES 384.4K
1499.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,370 €4,623
$253 VES 205.4K
2022.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Barquisimeto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,402 €2,068
$185 VES 150.6K
1195.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
25
-87.36%

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Barquisimeto: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $213 in Barquisimeto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 1195% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $49.00 in Barquisimeto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $281 per month, with Barquisimeto 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 Barquisimeto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Barquisimeto?
Barcelona and Barquisimeto differ by about 190% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $861 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Barquisimeto?
Average pay runs 1195% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Barquisimeto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $213 in Barquisimeto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Barquisimeto?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $56.4 in Barquisimeto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $861 in Barquisimeto versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barquisimeto but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Barquisimeto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Barquisimeto?
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.
Is Barcelona or Barquisimeto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Barquisimeto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Barquisimeto?
Expats usually find Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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