Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,187 in Caracas versus $766 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Caracas versus $1,267 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Caracas versus $1,768 in Barcelona.

Living in Caracas is roughly 55% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Caracas 11% lower, Barcelona 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 VES 8,967

$9.91 VES 7,284

23.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.2 VES 39.8K

$35.41 VES 26.0K

52.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 7,445

$9.08 VES 6,673

11.56%

Cappuccino

$2.52 VES 1,854

$2.95 VES 2,169

-14.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 VES 969

$1.05 VES 773

25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 VES 701

$0.69 VES 507

37.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 VES 1,122

$0.97 VES 715

57.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,143

$2.03 VES 1,489

43.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 VES 1,368

$1.78 VES 1,311

4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 VES 2,028

$1.46 VES 1,077

89.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 VES 1,043

$1.45 VES 1,068

-2.07%

Eggs

$2.84 VES 2,091

$3.30 VES 2,427

-13.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 VES 7,339

$4.90 VES 3,601

103.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.31 VES 5,375

$6.51 VES 4,786

12.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 VES 5,439

$7.20 VES 5,296

2.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 VES 3,919

$4.45 VES 3,275

19.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 VES 1,354

$1.43 VES 1,052

28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 VES 1,673

$1.75 VES 1,289

30.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 VES 1,460

$2.02 VES 1,485

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 VES 1,988

$1.34 VES 986

101.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 VES 1,515

$1.36 VES 1,001

51.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 VES 985

$1.87 VES 1,373

-28.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 VES 1,446

$1.71 VES 1,254

15.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 VES 2,907

$3.90 VES 2,870

1.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 VES 8,966

$12.03 VES 8,845

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 1,114

$1.27 VES 934

19.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 VES 1,453

$2.38 VES 1,746

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 VES 578

$0.62 VES 459

27.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 VES 22.4K

$10.07 VES 7,399

201.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 VES 3,577

$5.06 VES 3,719

-3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 VES 1,995

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 7,317

$15.27 VES 11.2K

-34.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 376

$0.48 VES 355

6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K VES 18.2M

$28.5K VES 20.9M

-13.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.0K VES 29.4M

$44.7K VES 32.9M

-10.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$19.82 VES 14.6K

$40.17 VES 29.5K

-50.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.26 VES 9,745

$15.28 VES 11.2K

-13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.50 VES 29.0K

$43.79 VES 32.2K

-9.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VES 49.9K

$30.31 VES 22.3K

123.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.57 VES 11.4K

$15.15 VES 11.1K

2.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 VES 4,475

$7.14 VES 5,247

-14.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$130 VES 95.4K

$80.5 VES 59.2K

61.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,392 VES 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 VES 46.7K

$46.76 VES 34.4K

35.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 VES 28.9K

$43.32 VES 31.8K

-9.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 VES 76.5K

$64.5 VES 47.4K

61.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 VES 83.1K

$55.8 VES 41.0K

102.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 VES 333.2K

$200 VES 146.7K

127.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 VES 269.9K

$116 VES 85.6K

215.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 VES 722.3K

$371 VES 272.9K

164.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 VES 617.8K

$275 VES 202.1K

205.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,480 VES 1.1M

$418 VES 307.4K

253.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$666 VES 489.5K

$238 VES 175.1K

179.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 VES 225.4K

$233 VES 171.0K

31.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.33

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

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Caracas and $200 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caracas pays 32% 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: $54.0 in Caracas vs $35.00 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $238 per month, with Barcelona 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

Caracas vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Caracas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Barcelona the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Caracas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $453 in Caracas versus $200 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $54.0 in Caracas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,187 per month in Caracas versus $766 in Barcelona – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $766 in Barcelona versus $1,187 in Caracas, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Caracas. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Caracas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.