Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Paramaribo Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Paramaribo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,103 in Paramaribo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,791 in Paramaribo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,480 in Paramaribo.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 125% more expensive than in Paramaribo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Paramaribo is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$12.99 SRD 490
44.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$53.3 SRD 2,008
30.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$11.05 SRD 416
24.62%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.77 SRD 104
11.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$1.41 SRD 53.3
100.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$0.83 SRD 31.20
126.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$2.68 SRD 101
48.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$3.89 SRD 146
16.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$1.83 SRD 69.1
-30.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
$1.40 SRD 52.7
54.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.66 SRD 62.7
6.02%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
$3.12 SRD 118
64.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
$10.84 SRD 409
64.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
$6.28 SRD 237
53.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
$10.50 SRD 396
91.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$4.93 SRD 186
-34.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$2.39 SRD 90.0
-6.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$3.82 SRD 144
-31.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
$6.12 SRD 231
-54.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$1.42 SRD 53.4
55.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
$1.98 SRD 74.6
7.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
$1.55 SRD 58.5
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$1.50 SRD 56.4
-36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
$5.65 SRD 213
29.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
$7.72 SRD 291
4.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$2.07 SRD 77.9
-25.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$3.82 SRD 144
-26.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
$0.78 SRD 29.42
298.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
$88.4 SRD 3,332
-70.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$3.02 SRD 114
8.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$2.05 SRD 77.4
-27.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
$9.85 SRD 371
247.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.17 SRD 44.03
47.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$25.1K SRD 945.6K
44.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
$25.4K SRD 957.6K
20.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$37.23 SRD 1,403
402.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$25.14 SRD 947
-39.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$30.65 SRD 1,155
22.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
$13.44 SRD 507
316.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
$20.27 SRD 764
-15.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$4.93 SRD 186
131.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
$62.3 SRD 2,350
1498.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$1,726 SRD 65.0K
858.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$37.18 SRD 1,401
149.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$26.63 SRD 1,004
54.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$72.1 SRD 2,718
54.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$103 SRD 3,869
21.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
$481 SRD 18.1K
254.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
$266 SRD 10.0K
383.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$1,141 SRD 43.0K
124.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
$494 SRD 18.6K
292.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
$473 SRD 17.8K
1517.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
$402 SRD 15.2K
1184.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Paramaribo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$279 SRD 10.5K
742.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
16
-80.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Paramaribo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $481 in Paramaribo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 742% 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 $53.0 in Paramaribo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $298 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 in Paramaribo?
Barcelona and Paramaribo differ by about 125% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,103 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?
Average pay runs 742% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Paramaribo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $481 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $62.3 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 13% 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 $1,103 in Paramaribo versus $2,476 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 125% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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