😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,068 in Coquimbo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,617 in Coquimbo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,165 in Coquimbo.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 119% more expensive than Coquimbo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Coquimbo is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$8.59CLP 7,642
105.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$43.78CLP 38.9K
56.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$7.91CLP 7,030
73.83%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.70CLP 2,405
2.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.35CLP 1,200
105.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.01CLP 901
102.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$3.19CLP 2,841
44.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.15CLP 3,688
10.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.09CLP 971
17.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.58CLP 1,402
33.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.86CLP 1,651
5.91%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$3.51CLP 3,121
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$10.30CLP 9,162
82.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$6.50CLP 5,779
45.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$11.07CLP 9,845
71.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.80CLP 1,601
51.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.58CLP 1,407
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.59CLP 1,416
30.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.50CLP 1,332
84.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.28CLP 1,140
53.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.35CLP 1,203
32.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.28CLP 1,135
17.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.17CLP 1,043
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$5.36CLP 4,763
26.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$9.14CLP 8,131
-17.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.57CLP 1,396
-8.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.20CLP 1,961
9.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.62CLP 549
388.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.51CLP 454
768.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.39CLP 1,233
35.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$19.3KCLP 17.2M
100.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$21.3KCLP 18.9M
52.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$134CLP 119.3K
40.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$13.41CLP 11.9K
65.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$21.84CLP 19.4K
68.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$38.75CLP 34.5K
49.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$21.16CLP 18.8K
-0.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.81CLP 5,171
90.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$431CLP 383.3K
68.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$50.0CLP 44.5K
76.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$29.98CLP 26.7K
23.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$61.8CLP 54.9K
65.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$83.0CLP 73.8K
43.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$472CLP 419.4K
223.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$372CLP 330.6K
227.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$878CLP 780.4K
218.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$584CLP 519.6K
246.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$661CLP 587.7K
263.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.18
-34.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Coquimbo: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $472 in Coquimbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 264% 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 $44.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $233 per month, with Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Coquimbo?
Barcelona and Coquimbo differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,068 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Coquimbo?
Barcelona pays 264% 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 Coquimbo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $472 in Coquimbo. 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 Coquimbo?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $431 in Coquimbo. 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 Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $44.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,068 in Coquimbo versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Coquimbo?
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 Coquimbo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.