🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Barquisimeto versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Barquisimeto versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,083 in Barquisimeto versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 65% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barquisimeto is 37% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.95VES 8,078
$18.39€15.83
-45.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.50VES 40.2K
$69.2€59.6
-28.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.52VES 9,350
$14.13€12.16
-18.47%
Cappuccino
$1.72VES 1,393
$3.13€2.70
-45.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52VES 1,236
$3.02€2.60
-49.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15VES 932
$1.96€1.69
-41.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28VES 1,038
$4.00€3.44
-68.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36VES 2,724
$4.76€4.10
-29.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.98VES 2,420
$1.25€1.07
138.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37VES 1,921
$2.16€1.86
9.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14VES 1,734
$1.69€1.45
26.63%
Eggs
$3.27VES 2,657
$4.93€4.25
-33.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85VES 6,375
$17.88€15.39
-56.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03VES 7,331
$9.61€8.27
-6.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.65VES 8,647
$19.34€16.65
-44.93%
Apples(1kg)
$4.59VES 3,730
$3.24€2.79
41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02VES 1,637
$2.18€1.87
-7.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74VES 597
$2.67€2.30
-72.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92VES 746
$2.77€2.39
-66.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95VES 775
$2.21€1.91
-57.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35VES 1,095
$2.19€1.88
-38.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65VES 529
$1.52€1.31
-57.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61VES 1,309
$0.92€0.79
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92VES 2,368
$7.12€6.13
-58.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.82VES 9,590
$8.14€7.00
45.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25VES 1,018
$1.50€1.29
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81VES 2,284
$2.78€2.39
1.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40VES 324
$3.15€2.71
-87.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.68VES 32.2K
$26.99€23.24
47.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96VES 4,026
$3.25€2.80
52.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54VES 2,063
$1.50€1.29
69.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.22VES 12.4K
$34.89€30.04
-56.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75VES 611
$1.75€1.50
-57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KVES 20.4M
$36.7K€31.6K
-31.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3KVES 25.4M
$30.9K€26.6K
1.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.36VES 12.5K
$188€162
-91.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.87VES 6,386
$15.44€13.29
-49.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.72VES 29.8K
$37.80€32.54
-2.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.48VES 27.2K
$57.2€49.22
-41.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.72VES 7,081
$16.80€14.46
-48.10%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05VES 4,100
$11.58€9.97
-56.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.4VES 45.8K
$1,003€863
-94.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$494VES 401.1K
$17.0K€14.6K
-97.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83VES 38.0K
$89.2€76.8
-47.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.74VES 32.3K
$40.87€35.18
-2.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103VES 83.5K
$110€94.7
-6.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5VES 66.1K
$123€106
-33.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213VES 173.2K
$1,673€1,440
-87.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142VES 115.3K
$1,331€1,146
-89.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464VES 376.7K
$2,596€2,234
-82.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322VES 261.2K
$1,950€1,679
-83.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$474VES 384.4K
$7,573€6,519
-93.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$253VES 205.4K
$5,370€4,623
-95.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barquisimeto
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$185VES 150.6K
$2,402€2,068
-92.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
3.16
691.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barquisimeto: September 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Barquisimeto and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1195% 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: $49.00 in Barquisimeto vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $332 per month, with Barquisimeto 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
Barquisimeto vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barquisimeto and in Barcelona?
Barquisimeto and Barcelona differ by about 190% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $2,495 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1195% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barquisimeto and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Barquisimeto versus $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barquisimeto and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $56.4 in Barquisimeto versus $1,003 in Barcelona. 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 18% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $861 in Barquisimeto versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barquisimeto but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Barquisimeto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barquisimeto and Barcelona?
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 Barquisimeto or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barquisimeto and Barcelona 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: Barquisimeto or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barquisimeto vs other spots: cost of living compared