😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,015 in Paramaribo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,740 in Paramaribo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,464 in Paramaribo.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 133% more expensive than Paramaribo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Paramaribo is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$8.42SRD 311
108.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$43.33SRD 1,598
57.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$10.32SRD 381
36.24%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.66SRD 98.1
4.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.18SRD 43.71
137.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.79SRD 28.97
160.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.95SRD 109
51.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$4.16SRD 154
10.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.80SRD 66.5
-31.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.26SRD 46.65
61.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.67SRD 61.8
14.97%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.46SRD 128
-4.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$12.61SRD 465
46.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$5.71SRD 211
66.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$9.77SRD 361
96.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$4.39SRD 162
-39.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.96SRD 72.5
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$3.25SRD 120
-34.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.51SRD 203
-48.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.28SRD 47.11
59.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.01SRD 74.2
-7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.91SRD 70.3
-23.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.53SRD 56.3
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$5.71SRD 211
25.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$7.84SRD 289
0.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.21SRD 81.7
-37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.28SRD 121
-29.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.45SRD 16.68
562.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$91.4SRD 3,370
-67.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$3.02SRD 111
52.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.46SRD 90.7
-15.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$9.93SRD 366
193.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.14SRD 41.87
61.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$25.1KSRD 925.9K
55.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$25.3KSRD 931.6K
29.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$39.72SRD 1,465
372.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$25.69SRD 948
-10.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$29.40SRD 1,085
24.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$12.83SRD 473
347.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$20.21SRD 745
2.42%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$4.57SRD 169
144.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$63.4SRD 2,338
1037.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$1,939SRD 71.5K
675.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$35.87SRD 1,323
140.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$28.12SRD 1,037
31.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$76.3SRD 2,816
33.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$111SRD 4,107
4.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$496SRD 18.3K
209.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$214SRD 7,878
471.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,087SRD 40.1K
148.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$570SRD 21.0K
253.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$479SRD 17.7K
1407.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$395SRD 14.6K
1212.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$278SRD 10.3K
747.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
16
-78.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Paramaribo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $496 in Paramaribo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 748% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $43.00 in Paramaribo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $288 per month, with Paramaribo 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 Paramaribo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Paramaribo?
Barcelona and Paramaribo differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,015 including rent). Paramaribo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Paramaribo?
Barcelona pays 748% 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 Paramaribo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $496 in Paramaribo. 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 Paramaribo?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $63.4 in Paramaribo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,015 in Paramaribo versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Paramaribo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Paramaribo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Paramaribo?
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 Paramaribo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Paramaribo 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 Paramaribo?
Expats usually find Paramaribo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.