😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $863 in Cabarete.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,311 in Cabarete.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,758 in Cabarete.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 174% more expensive than Cabarete, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Cabarete is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$6.30DOP 368
179.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$36.13DOP 2,108
89.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$5.97DOP 348
135.51%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.22DOP 129
25.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.00DOP 58.3
180.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.85DOP 49.31
142.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.51DOP 146
77.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$3.69DOP 215
24.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.98DOP 57.4
26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.42DOP 82.6
42.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.51DOP 88.0
27.15%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.65DOP 96.3
100.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$7.03DOP 410
162.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$4.68DOP 273
102.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$5.72DOP 334
234.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$0.91DOP 52.8
190.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$0.92DOP 53.8
166.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.87DOP 109
13.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.30DOP 75.8
119.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.06DOP 61.7
92.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.75DOP 102
5.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.09DOP 63.8
34.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.95DOP 55.4
-11.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$3.38DOP 197
111.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$10.83DOP 632
-27.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.30DOP 134
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.82DOP 164
-18.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.70DOP 40.67
325.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$3.32DOP 193
38.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.20DOP 128
-5.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$6.07DOP 354
380.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.30DOP 75.9
41.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
46.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$32.1KDOP 1.9M
1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$50.7DOP 2,957
270.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$25.55DOP 1,490
-10.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$17.05DOP 994
115.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$42.40DOP 2,473
35.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$6.72DOP 392
66.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$270DOP 15.7K
167.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$7,965DOP 464.6K
88.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$59.9DOP 3,494
43.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$51.9DOP 3,027
-28.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$95.2DOP 5,555
7.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$114DOP 6,646
1.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$880DOP 51.3K
74.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$252DOP 14.7K
384.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$587DOP 34.3K
358.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$369DOP 21.6K
444.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$312DOP 18.2K
1564.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
12.9
-73.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cabarete: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $880 in Cabarete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $36.00 in Cabarete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $184 per month, with Cabarete 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 Cabarete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Cabarete?
Barcelona and Cabarete differ by about 174% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $863 including rent). Cabarete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Cabarete?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,295 in Cabarete to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Cabarete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $880 in Cabarete. 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 Cabarete?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $270 in Cabarete. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cabarete – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $863 in Cabarete versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabarete but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cabarete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Cabarete?
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 Cabarete safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Cabarete 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 Cabarete?
Expats usually find Cabarete 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.