😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $565 in Cerro de Pasco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $899 in Cerro de Pasco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,233 in Cerro de Pasco.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 338% more expensive than in Cerro de Pasco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Cerro de Pasco is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.31
$2.96PEN 9.98
533.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$29.49PEN 99.5
135.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.98
$7.05PEN 23.77
95.32%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.10PEN 7.08
47.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.75PEN 2.54
277.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.46PEN 1.56
308.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.64PEN 8.91
50.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.94
$4.53PEN 15.30
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.58PEN 5.34
-19.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$2.44PEN 8.22
-11.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.27PEN 4.29
38.58%
Eggs
$5.13€4.46
$2.42PEN 8.16
111.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.56
$9.50PEN 32.06
88.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.40
$6.19PEN 20.87
55.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.54
$8.39PEN 28.30
140.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$2.01PEN 6.78
61.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$0.75PEN 2.53
197.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.26
$0.47PEN 1.57
453.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.18PEN 3.98
133.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.92
$0.72PEN 2.43
206.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$0.53PEN 1.79
300.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.90PEN 3.05
72.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.91PEN 3.07
4.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.39
$5.92PEN 19.98
23.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.00
$7.28PEN 24.57
10.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.34
$1.92PEN 6.47
-19.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.73PEN 9.22
2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.70
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.51
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$4.04PEN 13.62
-19.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.12PEN 7.16
-30.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.83
$7.51PEN 25.35
356.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.50
$1.73PEN 5.85
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$22.1KPEN 74.6K
64.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$26.1KPEN 87.9K
17.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$70.7PEN 239
164.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.18
$17.03PEN 57.5
-11.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.80
$28.25PEN 95.3
33.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.69
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.93
$7.55PEN 25.48
51.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€867
$181PEN 609
452.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$13.6KPEN 45.8K
21.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.6
$53.8PEN 181
72.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.88
$36.34PEN 123
13.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.8
$85.5PEN 289
30.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$81.5PEN 275
53.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,486
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,119
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,233
$421PEN 1,422
508.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,690
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,656
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,497
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,044
$483PEN 1,631
385.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
8.94
-64.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Cerro de Pasco: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Barcelona pays 386% 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 $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $209 per month, with Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Cerro de Pasco?
Barcelona and Cerro de Pasco differ by about 338% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $565 including rent). Cerro de Pasco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Cerro de Pasco?
Average pay runs 386% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Cerro de Pasco?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $181 in Cerro de Pasco. 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 Cerro de Pasco – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $565 in Cerro de Pasco versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cerro de Pasco but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cerro de Pasco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Cerro de Pasco?
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 Cerro de Pasco safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco?
Expats usually find Cerro de Pasco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 338% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.