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: $734 in Maracaibo versus $773 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,244 in Maracaibo versus $1,277 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,754 in Maracaibo versus $1,782 in Barcelona.

Living in Maracaibo costs roughly 5% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maracaibo 45% lower, Barcelona 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.37 VES 5,777

$9.96 VES 5,551

4.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.97 VES 22.3K

$35.35 VES 19.7K

13.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 VES 4,915

$8.78 VES 4,891

0.46%

Cappuccino

$2.65 VES 1,476

$3.05 VES 1,699

-13.11%

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

$1.20 VES 671

$1.02 VES 568

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 VES 724

$0.65 VES 361

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 VES 1,290

$1.02 VES 570

127.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 VES 1,643

$1.99 VES 1,107

48.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 VES 996

$1.76 VES 982

1.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 VES 1,080

$1.47 VES 817

31.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 VES 607

$1.51 VES 842

-27.81%

Eggs

$3.19 VES 1,775

$3.34 VES 1,864

-4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 VES 3,318

$4.89 VES 2,725

21.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 VES 3,003

$6.69 VES 3,725

-19.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.08 VES 3,386

$7.12 VES 3,966

-14.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 VES 2,513

$4.46 VES 2,483

1.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 VES 769

$1.38 VES 767

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 VES 954

$1.78 VES 990

-3.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 820

$2.01 VES 1,121

-26.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 VES 649

$1.42 VES 790

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 VES 905

$1.42 VES 789

14.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 564

$1.79 VES 999

-43.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 VES 889

$1.76 VES 981

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 VES 1,914

$4.05 VES 2,259

-15.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 VES 4,997

$11.77 VES 6,561

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VES 591

$1.23 VES 684

-13.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 1,473

$2.29 VES 1,274

15.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 VES 287

$0.61 VES 341

-16.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.83 VES 23.3K

$9.88 VES 5,504

323.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 VES 2,290

$4.96 VES 2,766

-17.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 VES 1,087

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 VES 9,900

$14.91 VES 8,310

19.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 269

$0.49 VES 273

-2.04%

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

$22.2K VES 12.4M

$28.3K VES 15.8M

-21.64%

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

$31.0K VES 17.3M

$45.3K VES 25.3M

-31.62%

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

$16.22 VES 9,038

$40.32 VES 22.5K

-59.77%

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

$9.02 VES 5,028

$15.18 VES 8,457

-40.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.85 VES 14.4K

$43.61 VES 24.3K

-40.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.34 VES 19.1K

$29.68 VES 16.5K

15.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 VES 13.1K

$15.28 VES 8,515

53.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 VES 2,807

$6.90 VES 3,847

-26.96%

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

$112 VES 62.5K

$79.2 VES 44.1K

41.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K VES 7.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.75 VES 23.3K

$46.24 VES 25.8K

-9.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.17 VES 23.5K

$41.93 VES 23.4K

0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 VES 32.2K

$64.3 VES 35.8K

-10.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 VES 33.6K

$57.6 VES 32.1K

4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 VES 100.5K

$204 VES 113.6K

-11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 VES 56.0K

$116 VES 64.4K

-13.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 VES 183.7K

$373 VES 208.0K

-11.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 116.6K

$276 VES 153.8K

-24.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$759 VES 423.0K

$418 VES 233.2K

81.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 VES 279.5K

$237 VES 132.1K

111.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 VES 109.5K

$228 VES 127.1K

-13.85%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Maracaibo and $204 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 16% 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 $221 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 5% 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, Barcelona earns 16% less. 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: $180 in Maracaibo versus $204 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 $734 per month in Maracaibo versus $773 in Barcelona – a 5% 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 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.