🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $524 in Cerro de Pasco versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Cerro de Pasco versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Cerro de Pasco versus $4,599 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 61% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81PEN 9.55
$17.08€14.72
-83.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.35PEN 93.0
$69.2€59.7
-60.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.02PEN 23.88
$13.78€11.87
-49.06%
Cappuccino
$1.91PEN 6.48
$2.76€2.37
-30.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71PEN 2.41
$2.79€2.40
-74.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PEN 1.36
$1.99€1.72
-79.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27PEN 7.72
$4.36€3.76
-47.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95PEN 13.44
$4.74€4.09
-16.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42PEN 4.81
$1.29€1.11
10.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26PEN 7.69
$2.05€1.77
10.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25PEN 4.26
$1.99€1.71
-37.19%
Eggs
$2.29PEN 7.77
$3.39€2.92
-32.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.02PEN 27.27
$18.81€16.21
-57.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72PEN 19.44
$9.36€8.07
-38.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93PEN 26.94
$19.12€16.48
-58.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96PEN 6.67
$2.70€2.32
-27.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72PEN 2.45
$2.34€2.02
-69.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.44PEN 1.48
$2.12€1.83
-79.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14PEN 3.88
$2.85€2.46
-60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72PEN 2.46
$1.97€1.70
-63.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52PEN 1.78
$1.80€1.55
-71.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88PEN 2.99
$1.45€1.25
-39.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85PEN 2.91
$0.86€0.74
-1.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42PEN 18.41
$6.78€5.84
-20.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04PEN 23.94
$7.90€6.81
-10.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69PEN 5.73
$1.39€1.20
21.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53PEN 8.59
$2.37€2.04
6.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.92€2.52
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.69€24.72
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27PEN 11.12
$4.46€3.84
-26.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14PEN 7.26
$2.05€1.77
4.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.37PEN 28.46
$29.55€25.46
-71.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35PEN 4.60
$1.82€1.56
-25.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KPEN 65.2K
$38.8K€33.5K
-50.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KPEN 84.9K
$33.1K€28.5K
-24.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.8PEN 190
$189€163
-70.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.40PEN 42.16
$22.80€19.65
-45.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.47PEN 79.8
$37.59€32.39
-37.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.7€49.75
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74€17.87
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74PEN 22.92
$10.82€9.33
-37.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$221PEN 751
$728€628
-69.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,138PEN 27.7K
$14.8K€12.7K
-44.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.25PEN 167
$88.6€76.4
-44.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69PEN 121
$36.85€31.75
-3.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8PEN 312
$102€87.9
-10.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9PEN 299
$116€100
-24.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,569€1,352
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,218€1,050
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392PEN 1,332
$2,795€2,409
-85.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,975€1,702
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754€6,680
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176€4,460
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$453PEN 1,538
$2,343€2,019
-80.69%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Barcelona pays 418% 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: $27.00 in Cerro de Pasco vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $319 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 346% in total monthly costs ($524 vs $2,337 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 418% 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 $221 in Cerro de Pasco versus $728 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 $27.00 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 $524 in Cerro de Pasco versus $2,337 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 346% 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