😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $856 in Cabarete.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,324 in Cabarete.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,791 in Cabarete.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 171% more expensive than in Cabarete, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Cabarete is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.45
$6.41DOP 374
175.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$35.19DOP 2,052
97.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.39
$6.08DOP 355
132.89%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.20DOP 128
27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.02DOP 59.6
175.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.84DOP 48.77
145.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.02
$2.62DOP 153
75.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.10
$3.79DOP 221
23.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.99DOP 57.9
24.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.41DOP 82.0
43.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.53DOP 89.2
29.41%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.60DOP 93.2
118.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.04
$7.00DOP 408
161.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.60
$4.78DOP 279
105.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.73
$5.53DOP 322
245.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$0.91DOP 52.9
200.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$0.85DOP 49.56
180.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.93DOP 112
7.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.28DOP 74.7
114.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.07DOP 62.2
83.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.73DOP 101
3.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.11DOP 64.6
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.87DOP 50.7
4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.24
$3.44DOP 200
107.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.89
$10.59DOP 617
-25.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$2.34DOP 136
-41.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.84DOP 165
-15.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.63
$0.66DOP 38.65
356.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.68
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.50DOP 204
24.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$2.15DOP 125
-0.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.90
$5.91DOP 345
400.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.23DOP 71.9
47.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.1K
$26.3KDOP 1.5M
44.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.3K
$31.4KDOP 1.8M
3.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$51.5DOP 3,000
267.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.50
$24.94DOP 1,454
-10.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.51
$16.89DOP 985
120.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$42.55DOP 2,481
36.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.08
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.51
$6.95DOP 405
56.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$270DOP 15.7K
161.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$8,191DOP 477.6K
81.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$59.6DOP 3,473
50.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.02
$51.7DOP 3,014
-29.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.0
$95.5DOP 5,568
8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$114DOP 6,657
4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,381
$880DOP 51.3K
79.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,083
$260DOP 15.1K
376.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,373
$598DOP 34.9K
353.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,784
$374DOP 21.8K
445.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,585
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,584
$305DOP 17.8K
1616.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Cabarete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,068
-
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Cabarete: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $880 in Cabarete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Cabarete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $182 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 in Cabarete?
Barcelona and Cabarete differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $856 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 $3,480 in Barcelona and $1,284 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 in Cabarete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 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 $706 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 $35.00 versus $70.0 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 $856 in Cabarete versus $2,320 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 171% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.