🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,480 in Barranquilla versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,301 in Barranquilla versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,122 in Barranquilla versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Barranquilla costs roughly 41% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barranquilla8% above, Barcelona82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.43COP 26.6K
$18.39€15.86
-54.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5COP 197.2K
$69.2€59.7
-9.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.66COP 40.0K
$14.13€12.19
-10.40%
Cappuccino
$2.78COP 8,783
$3.13€2.70
-11.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34COP 4,215
$3.02€2.60
-55.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29COP 4,084
$1.96€1.69
-34.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.05COP 12.8K
$4.00€3.45
1.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94COP 25.1K
$4.76€4.11
66.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88COP 2,780
$1.25€1.08
-29.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28COP 4,045
$2.16€1.87
-40.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,106
$1.69€1.45
-4.14%
Eggs
$2.10COP 6,612
$4.93€4.25
-57.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.97COP 15.7K
$17.88€15.42
-72.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.95COP 56.6K
$9.61€8.29
86.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.12COP 22.5K
$19.34€16.68
-63.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27COP 7,160
$3.24€2.79
-29.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93COP 2,933
$2.18€1.88
-57.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60COP 1,904
$2.67€2.30
-77.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85COP 5,841
$2.77€2.39
-33.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25COP 3,943
$2.21€1.91
-43.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98COP 3,089
$2.19€1.89
-55.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25COP 3,950
$1.52€1.31
-17.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93COP 2,947
$0.92€0.79
1.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.09COP 16.1K
$7.12€6.14
-28.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85COP 40.6K
$8.14€7.02
57.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54COP 4,855
$1.50€1.29
2.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87COP 15.4K
$2.78€2.40
75.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20COP 3,800
$3.15€2.72
-61.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.99€23.28
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46COP 10.9K
$3.25€2.80
6.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22COP 10.2K
$1.50€1.29
114.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.59COP 49.2K
$34.89€30.10
-55.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34COP 4,230
$1.75€1.51
-23.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KCOP 69.7M
$36.7K€31.6K
-39.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KCOP 92.2M
$30.9K€26.7K
-5.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 475.8K
$188€162
-19.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.54COP 45.9K
$15.44€13.32
-5.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.67COP 103.1K
$37.80€32.60
-13.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.51COP 108.9K
$57.2€49.32
-39.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80€14.49
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.82COP 15.2K
$11.58€9.99
-58.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$323COP 1.0M
$1,003€865
-67.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,682COP 14.8M
$17.0K€14.7K
-72.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112COP 353.1K
$89.2€77.0
25.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.13COP 148.7K
$40.87€35.25
15.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$190COP 599.2K
$110€94.9
72.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$255COP 804.8K
$123€106
107.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$794COP 2.5M
$1,673€1,443
-52.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503COP 1.6M
$1,331€1,148
-62.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806COP 2.5M
$2,596€2,239
-68.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$915COP 2.9M
$1,950€1,682
-53.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,882COP 5.9M
$7,573€6,532
-75.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$647COP 2.0M
$5,370€4,632
-87.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barranquilla
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$513COP 1.6M
$2,402€2,072
-78.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
3.16
216.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barranquilla: August 29, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Barranquilla and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 368% 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: $63.0 in Barranquilla vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $332 per month, with Barranquilla 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
Barranquilla vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barranquilla and in Barcelona?
Barranquilla and Barcelona differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,480 vs $2,495 including rent). Barranquilla 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 368% 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 Barranquilla and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $794 in Barranquilla 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 Barranquilla and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $323 in Barranquilla 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 restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Barranquilla – a meal for two runs $63.0 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,480 in Barranquilla versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Barranquilla but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Barranquilla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barranquilla 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 Barranquilla or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barranquilla 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: Barranquilla or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barranquilla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barranquilla vs other spots: cost of living compared