🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Maracay versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,252 in Maracay versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Maracay versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Maracay costs roughly 70% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maracay is 47% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.91VES 4,081
$18.42€15.88
-73.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.80VES 27.2K
$69.4€59.8
-52.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86VES 6,531
$14.05€12.11
-44.06%
Cappuccino
$1.70VES 1,411
$3.11€2.68
-45.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23VES 1,018
$2.96€2.55
-58.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16VES 963
$1.95€1.69
-40.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22VES 1,011
$3.99€3.44
-69.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08VES 2,562
$4.62€3.98
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65VES 2,203
$1.32€1.14
100.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20VES 1,830
$2.11€1.82
4.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99VES 820
$1.83€1.57
-45.90%
Eggs
$2.74VES 2,273
$5.16€4.45
-46.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73VES 5,589
$17.56€15.14
-61.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76VES 4,782
$9.50€8.19
-39.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48VES 7,040
$19.93€17.18
-57.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.25VES 3,527
$3.17€2.73
34.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96VES 1,624
$2.21€1.91
-11.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11VES 1,755
$2.61€2.25
-19.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25VES 1,866
$2.85€2.46
-21.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30VES 1,908
$2.17€1.87
5.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21VES 1,837
$2.11€1.81
4.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58VES 1,315
$1.62€1.39
-2.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29VES 1,899
$0.88€0.76
160.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54VES 2,109
$7.17€6.18
-64.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.04VES 8,333
$8.33€7.18
20.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16VES 967
$1.50€1.29
-22.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78VES 1,477
$2.75€2.37
-35.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48VES 402
$3.14€2.70
-84.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.37VES 16.9K
$26.25€22.63
-22.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.98VES 2,478
$3.22€2.78
-7.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68VES 2,224
$1.51€1.30
77.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.11VES 8,400
$35.26€30.39
-71.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61VES 507
$1.75€1.51
-65.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KVES 21.2M
$36.7K€31.6K
-30.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5KVES 32.0M
$31.7K€27.3K
21.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$12.66VES 10.5K
$187€161
-93.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.83VES 8,993
$15.10€13.01
-28.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.45VES 30.3K
$37.60€32.41
-3.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.99VES 24.9K
$55.5€47.83
-45.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.81VES 12.3K
$16.74€14.43
-11.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05VES 3,361
$11.71€10.09
-65.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$74.6VES 61.9K
$1,011€871
-92.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,048VES 5.0M
$17.1K€14.7K
-64.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4VES 43.5K
$91.4€78.8
-42.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.58VES 30.4K
$41.00€35.34
-10.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0VES 68.1K
$111€95.3
-25.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0VES 78.0K
$126€109
-25.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225VES 186.5K
$1,704€1,469
-86.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108VES 90.0K
$1,299€1,120
-91.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555VES 461.2K
$2,588€2,231
-78.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270VES 224.3K
$1,929€1,663
-86.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$454VES 376.7K
$7,732€6,665
-94.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$200VES 166.3K
$5,384€4,641
-96.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maracay
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$209VES 173.4K
$2,374€2,046
-91.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.5
3.16
580.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Maracay and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1037% 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: $33.00 in Maracay vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $333 per month, with Maracay 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
Maracay vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maracay and in Barcelona?
Maracay and Barcelona differ by about 237% in total monthly costs ($736 vs $2,482 including rent). Maracay 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 1037% 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 Maracay and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $225 in Maracay versus $1,704 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 Maracay and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $74.6 in Maracay versus $1,011 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $736 in Maracay versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Maracay but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maracay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maracay 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 Maracay or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maracay 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: Maracay or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Maracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 237% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.