Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Maracaibo and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $745 in Maracaibo versus $766 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,249 in Maracaibo versus $1,267 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Maracaibo versus $1,768 in Barcelona.

Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 3% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 44% lower, Barcelona 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 VES 7,784

$9.91 VES 7,284

6.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 VES 29.6K

$35.41 VES 26.0K

13.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 VES 6,458

$9.08 VES 6,673

-3.19%

Cappuccino

$2.75 VES 2,025

$2.95 VES 2,169

-6.78%

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

$1.15 VES 844

$1.05 VES 773

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 956

$0.69 VES 507

88.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 VES 1,614

$0.97 VES 715

126.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 VES 2,228

$2.03 VES 1,489

49.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 VES 1,266

$1.78 VES 1,311

-3.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 VES 1,476

$1.46 VES 1,077

37.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 VES 817

$1.45 VES 1,068

-23.45%

Eggs

$3.04 VES 2,236

$3.30 VES 2,427

-7.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 VES 4,335

$4.90 VES 3,601

20.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 VES 3,874

$6.51 VES 4,786

-19.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 VES 4,657

$7.20 VES 5,296

-11.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 VES 3,166

$4.45 VES 3,275

-3.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 VES 1,007

$1.43 VES 1,052

-4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 VES 1,238

$1.75 VES 1,289

-4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 VES 1,084

$2.02 VES 1,485

-26.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 VES 861

$1.34 VES 986

-12.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 VES 1,241

$1.36 VES 1,001

24.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 726

$1.87 VES 1,373

-47.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,202

$1.71 VES 1,254

-4.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 VES 2,529

$3.90 VES 2,870

-11.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 VES 6,814

$12.03 VES 8,845

-22.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 VES 783

$1.27 VES 934

-15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 VES 1,946

$2.38 VES 1,746

11.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 VES 358

$0.62 VES 459

-20.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.21 VES 31.0K

$10.07 VES 7,399

319.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 VES 2,866

$5.06 VES 3,719

-22.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 VES 1,443

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 VES 13.0K

$15.27 VES 11.2K

16.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 VES 380

$0.48 VES 355

8.33%

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

$22.8K VES 16.8M

$28.5K VES 20.9M

-19.82%

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

$31.2K VES 22.9M

$44.7K VES 32.9M

-30.21%

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

$16.36 VES 12.0K

$40.17 VES 29.5K

-59.27%

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

$8.61 VES 6,328

$15.28 VES 11.2K

-43.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 VES 18.7K

$43.79 VES 32.2K

-41.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.13 VES 25.1K

$30.31 VES 22.3K

12.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 VES 17.4K

$15.15 VES 11.1K

55.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 VES 3,650

$7.14 VES 5,247

-30.39%

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

$111 VES 81.7K

$80.5 VES 59.2K

37.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K VES 10.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.23 VES 30.3K

$46.76 VES 34.4K

-11.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 VES 30.8K

$43.32 VES 31.8K

-3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 VES 43.1K

$64.5 VES 47.4K

-9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.6 VES 43.8K

$55.8 VES 41.0K

6.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 VES 132.7K

$200 VES 146.7K

-9.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 VES 75.1K

$116 VES 85.6K

-12.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 VES 240.4K

$371 VES 272.9K

-11.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 VES 156.3K

$275 VES 202.1K

-22.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$763 VES 561.2K

$418 VES 307.4K

82.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$497 VES 365.6K

$238 VES 175.1K

108.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 VES 145.8K

$233 VES 171.0K

-14.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.6

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

Last update for Maracaibo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Maracaibo and $200 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 17% 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: $40.00 in Maracaibo vs $35.00 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $220 vs $238, with Maracaibo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Maracaibo vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maracaibo wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Maracaibo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 17% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Maracaibo versus $200 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Maracaibo – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $35.00 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $745 per month in Maracaibo versus $766 in Barcelona – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maracaibo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.