😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,069 in Coquimbo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,622 in Coquimbo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,176 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 74% above, Coquimbo is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$8.66CLP 7,783
97.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$44.66CLP 40.1K
55.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.21CLP 7,378
67.84%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.72CLP 2,441
1.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.30CLP 1,165
114.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.02CLP 915
95.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$3.21CLP 2,883
35.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$4.06CLP 3,650
16.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.06CLP 950
21.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.53CLP 1,374
33.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.92CLP 1,726
3.65%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$3.43CLP 3,079
-1.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$10.34CLP 9,295
81.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.72CLP 6,039
39.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$10.79CLP 9,695
77.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.82CLP 1,633
48.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.52CLP 1,362
53.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.55CLP 1,391
36.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.45CLP 1,304
96.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.27CLP 1,143
55.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.42CLP 1,277
26.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.27CLP 1,141
14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$1.19CLP 1,068
-27.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$5.51CLP 4,950
23.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.02CLP 5,411
31.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.56CLP 1,402
-10.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.21CLP 1,988
7.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.63CLP 564
363.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.47CLP 419
848.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.37CLP 1,235
32.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$19.6KCLP 17.6M
98.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$21.3KCLP 19.1M
55.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$132CLP 118.9K
43.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$13.32CLP 12.0K
71.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$21.78CLP 19.6K
72.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$37.95CLP 34.1K
52.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$21.29CLP 19.1K
-2.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.81CLP 5,222
86.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$438CLP 394.0K
66.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$51.6CLP 46.4K
71.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$29.86CLP 26.8K
23.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$62.1CLP 55.8K
64.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$83.2CLP 74.8K
39.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$486CLP 436.4K
223.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$373CLP 335.5K
226.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$892CLP 801.6K
213.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$592CLP 531.7K
233.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Coquimbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$661CLP 594.3K
254.34%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Coquimbo: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $486 in Coquimbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 254% 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 $45.00 in Coquimbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $226 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 ($2,337 vs $1,069 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 254% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $486 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $438 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 $45.00 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 $1,069 in Coquimbo versus $2,337 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.