🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Cerro de Pasco versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $852 in Cerro de Pasco versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,189 in Cerro de Pasco versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Cerro de Pasco costs roughly 78% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cerro de Pasco is 62% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76PEN 9.73
$17.61€15.08
-84.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.58PEN 97.1
$68.7€58.8
-59.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12PEN 25.07
$13.75€11.77
-48.22%
Cappuccino
$1.92PEN 6.76
$2.76€2.36
-30.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71PEN 2.50
$2.78€2.38
-74.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PEN 1.41
$2.05€1.75
-80.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25PEN 7.92
$4.61€3.94
-51.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88PEN 13.66
$4.59€3.93
-15.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42PEN 5.01
$1.28€1.10
10.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19PEN 7.71
$2.11€1.81
3.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24PEN 4.36
$1.97€1.69
-37.06%
Eggs
$2.30PEN 8.08
$3.44€2.95
-33.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.81PEN 27.50
$18.83€16.12
-58.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.68PEN 19.99
$9.45€8.09
-39.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.76PEN 27.31
$19.01€16.27
-59.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07PEN 7.28
$2.72€2.33
-23.90%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PEN 2.36
$2.37€2.03
-71.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.40PEN 1.42
$2.08€1.78
-80.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14PEN 4.02
$2.76€2.36
-58.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71PEN 2.51
$1.97€1.69
-63.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PEN 1.80
$1.79€1.53
-71.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81PEN 2.85
$1.51€1.29
-46.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84PEN 2.96
$0.90€0.77
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65PEN 19.89
$6.76€5.79
-16.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08PEN 24.92
$7.55€6.46
-6.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76PEN 6.21
$1.44€1.23
22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47PEN 8.71
$2.41€2.06
2.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$3.03€2.59
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42PEN 12.05
$4.43€3.79
-22.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11PEN 7.44
$2.05€1.76
2.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.08PEN 28.46
$29.33€25.11
-72.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36PEN 4.78
$1.89€1.62
-28.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KPEN 69.4K
$38.7K€33.2K
-49.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KPEN 86.3K
$32.4K€27.7K
-24.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.8PEN 200
$189€161
-69.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.63PEN 44.47
$22.21€19.01
-43.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.62PEN 83.2
$36.82€31.52
-35.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$58.0€49.64
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.83PEN 24.04
$11.05€9.46
-38.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216PEN 762
$726€622
-70.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,926PEN 27.9K
$15.2K€13.0K
-47.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.94PEN 176
$88.3€75.6
-43.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38PEN 128
$36.98€31.66
-1.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8PEN 316
$103€87.8
-12.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9PEN 316
$119€102
-24.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,526€1,307
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,218€1,043
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$391PEN 1,375
$2,794€2,392
-86.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,027€1,735
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,094€6,073
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,849€4,151
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$460PEN 1,617
$2,404€2,058
-80.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.11
3.39
198.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cerro de Pasco: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Barcelona pays 423% 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: $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $320 per month, with Cerro de Pasco 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
Cerro de Pasco vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cerro de Pasco and Barcelona?
Cerro de Pasco and Barcelona differ by about 355% in total monthly costs ($515 vs $2,341 including rent). Cerro de Pasco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 423% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cerro de Pasco and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $216 in Cerro de Pasco versus $726 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 Cerro de Pasco – a meal for two runs $28.00 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 $1,500 per month?
At $515 in Cerro de Pasco versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cerro de Pasco but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cerro de Pasco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cerro de Pasco 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: Cerro de Pasco or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Cerro de Pasco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 355% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cerro de Pasco vs other spots: cost of living compared