🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $2,434 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,670 in Coquimbo versus $3,473 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,267 in Coquimbo versus $4,512 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 56% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Coquimbo is 22% below, Barcelona is 78% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34CLP 6,770
$18.80€16.09
-60.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.33CLP 44.6K
$69.5€59.4
-30.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.47CLP 5,970
$14.08€12.05
-54.05%
Cappuccino
$3.86CLP 3,564
$3.12€2.66
23.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17CLP 1,082
$2.91€2.49
-59.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12CLP 1,035
$1.87€1.60
-40.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.34CLP 4,006
$4.00€3.42
8.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06CLP 4,668
$4.64€3.97
9.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07CLP 984
$1.19€1.02
-10.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80CLP 1,662
$2.13€1.82
-15.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65CLP 1,518
$1.84€1.57
-10.33%
Eggs
$3.90CLP 3,596
$5.13€4.39
-23.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.47CLP 10.6K
$16.39€14.02
-30.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47CLP 5,970
$9.71€8.31
-33.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70CLP 11.7K
$19.65€16.81
-35.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97CLP 1,820
$3.13€2.68
-37.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67CLP 1,538
$2.18€1.87
-23.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72CLP 1,591
$2.46€2.11
-30.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.70CLP 1,566
$2.77€2.37
-38.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03CLP 947
$2.12€1.82
-51.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48CLP 1,361
$2.23€1.90
-33.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35CLP 1,245
$1.49€1.27
-9.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17CLP 1,081
$0.91€0.78
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54CLP 5,114
$7.26€6.21
-23.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.97CLP 5,509
$8.29€7.09
-27.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56CLP 1,439
$1.54€1.32
1.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28CLP 2,104
$2.68€2.30
-14.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85CLP 785
$3.07€2.63
-72.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.93€22.18
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83CLP 765
$3.34€2.86
-75.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.88€1.61
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$34.98€29.92
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48CLP 1,369
$1.74€1.49
-14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KCLP 18.3M
$36.5K€31.2K
-45.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KCLP 22.6M
$31.5K€27.0K
-22.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119CLP 110.2K
$183€156
-34.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52CLP 12.5K
$15.70€13.43
-13.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.45CLP 18.9K
$36.73€31.42
-44.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.85CLP 25.7K
$53.5€45.76
-47.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.55CLP 5,117
$17.13€14.65
-67.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.26CLP 6,697
$11.51€9.85
-36.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$444CLP 410.0K
$952€815
-53.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,551CLP 7.9M
$16.2K€13.8K
-47.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3CLP 47.4K
$82.5€70.5
-37.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.01CLP 27.7K
$40.47€34.62
-25.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.2CLP 55.6K
$108€92.2
-44.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8CLP 69.0K
$125€107
-40.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512CLP 472.4K
$1,668€1,426
-69.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425CLP 391.9K
$1,288€1,101
-67.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,042CLP 961.0K
$2,663€2,278
-60.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682CLP 629.6K
$1,904€1,628
-64.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,513€6,427
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,178€4,429
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$647CLP 596.5K
$2,451€2,096
-73.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.12
65.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Coquimbo and $1,668 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 279% 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: $48.00 in Coquimbo vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $328 per month, with Coquimbo 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
Coquimbo vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Coquimbo and in Barcelona?
Coquimbo and Barcelona differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($1,073 vs $2,434 including rent). Coquimbo 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 279% 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 Coquimbo and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Coquimbo versus $1,668 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 Coquimbo and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $444 in Coquimbo versus $952 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 Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $48.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $2,434 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Coquimbo 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 Coquimbo or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Coquimbo 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: Coquimbo or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.