😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $876 in Barranquilla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,341 in Barranquilla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,805 in Barranquilla.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 174% more expensive than Barranquilla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Barranquilla is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$4.79COP 16.4K
269.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$31.12COP 106.7K
125.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$7.10COP 24.3K
92.39%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$1.71COP 5,873
60.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.92COP 3,157
203.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.60COP 2,040
226.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.35COP 4,628
222.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$1.93COP 6,614
137.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.95COP 3,242
35.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.33COP 4,547
54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.02COP 3,513
94.12%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.11COP 7,230
60.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$4.46COP 15.3K
317.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$5.27COP 18.0K
81.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$7.36COP 25.2K
155.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$2.84COP 9,721
-3.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.33COP 4,565
85.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.56COP 5,359
34.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$0.80COP 2,735
252.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$0.95COP 3,244
112.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.49COP 5,096
24.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.87COP 2,982
73.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.58COP 1,988
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.72COP 9,316
159.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$10.48COP 35.9K
-23.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$0.85COP 2,915
68.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.27COP 4,361
80.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.77COP 2,641
274.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$32.82COP 112.5K
-13.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$1.98COP 6,802
121.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$2.99COP 10.2K
-28.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$4.93COP 16.9K
491.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$0.94COP 3,230
97.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$15.2KCOP 52.2M
156.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$22.4KCOP 76.8M
45.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$139COP 475.8K
36.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$7.82COP 26.8K
190.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$21.52COP 73.8K
69.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$21.02COP 72.0K
173.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$14.41COP 49.4K
48.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$4.21COP 14.4K
156.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$60.2COP 206.2K
1107.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$1,832COP 6.3M
724.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$62.7COP 215.0K
39.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$52.3COP 179.1K
-29.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$81.0COP 277.6K
27.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$71.7COP 245.8K
62.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$242COP 829.4K
550.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$219COP 752.2K
455.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$531COP 1.8M
410.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$466COP 1.6M
322.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$1,728COP 5.9M
352.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$655COP 2.2M
703.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Barranquilla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$523COP 1.8M
354.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10
-66.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Barranquilla: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $242 in Barranquilla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 354% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $31.00 in Barranquilla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $173 per month, with Barranquilla 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 Barranquilla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Barranquilla?
Barcelona and Barranquilla differ by about 174% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $876 including rent). Barranquilla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Barranquilla?
Barcelona pays 354% more on average, 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 Barranquilla?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $242 in Barranquilla. 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 Barranquilla?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $60.2 in Barranquilla. 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 85% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $876 in Barranquilla versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Barranquilla but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Barranquilla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Barranquilla?
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 Barranquilla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Barranquilla 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 Barranquilla?
Expats usually find Barranquilla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 174% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.