Cost of Living Comparison Between Paramaribo and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Paramaribo and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Paramaribo versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,716 in Paramaribo versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Paramaribo versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Paramaribo costs roughly 57% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Paramaribo is 25% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.27 SRD 310
$17.66 €15.45
-53.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.85 SRD 1,606
$69.7 €61.0
-38.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.58 SRD 397
$14.16 €12.39
-25.28%
Cappuccino
$2.70 SRD 101
$2.80 €2.45
-3.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 SRD 46.36
$2.81 €2.46
-55.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 SRD 31.04
$2.06 €1.81
-59.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 SRD 115
$4.60 €4.02
-33.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 SRD 150
$4.69 €4.10
-14.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SRD 64.6
$1.23 €1.08
39.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 SRD 47.88
$2.03 €1.78
-36.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 SRD 62.6
$1.98 €1.73
-15.66%
Eggs
$3.50 SRD 131
$3.49 €3.05
0.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 SRD 463
$18.33 €16.04
-32.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.55 SRD 208
$9.83 €8.60
-43.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.84 SRD 369
$19.13 €16.73
-48.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 SRD 167
$2.73 €2.38
62.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 SRD 76.6
$2.38 €2.09
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 SRD 117
$2.08 €1.82
50.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.39 SRD 202
$2.75 €2.41
96.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 SRD 48.16
$1.96 €1.72
-34.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 SRD 78.1
$1.79 €1.57
16.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 SRD 69.0
$1.48 €1.29
24.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 SRD 55.6
$0.91 €0.80
62.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.58 SRD 209
$7.13 €6.24
-21.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.92 SRD 297
$7.88 €6.89
0.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 SRD 85.3
$1.38 €1.21
65.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 SRD 124
$2.39 €2.09
38.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 SRD 17.19
$3.01 €2.63
-84.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 SRD 3,352
$29.35 €25.68
204.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 SRD 112
$4.36 €3.82
-31.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.54 SRD 95.3
$2.13 €1.86
19.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.07 SRD 377
$29.60 €25.90
-65.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 SRD 41.23
$1.82 €1.59
-39.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K SRD 920.9K
$37.9K €33.1K
-35.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K SRD 947.6K
$32.4K €28.3K
-21.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.43 SRD 1,478
$189 €165
-79.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.19 SRD 982
$22.29 €19.50
17.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.06 SRD 1,089
$37.16 €32.51
-21.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.67 SRD 475
$58.0 €50.8
-78.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.82 SRD 743
$20.66 €18.08
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.58 SRD 172
$10.87 €9.51
-57.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$61.8 SRD 2,317
$706 €618
-91.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,950 SRD 73.1K
$14.9K €13.0K
-86.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.10 SRD 1,353
$89.4 €78.3
-59.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 SRD 1,083
$36.60 €32.02
-21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 SRD 2,822
$104 €91.0
-27.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 SRD 4,133
$119 €104
-7.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 SRD 18.9K
$1,579 €1,381
-68.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 SRD 8,128
$1,238 €1,083
-82.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,091 SRD 40.9K
$2,712 €2,373
-59.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 SRD 21.3K
$2,039 €1,784
-72.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$465 SRD 17.4K
$7,527 €6,585
-93.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$407 SRD 15.2K
$5,239 €4,584
-92.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$276 SRD 10.3K
$2,364 €2,068
-88.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16
3.39
371.98%

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

Last update for Paramaribo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Paramaribo and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 757% 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: $43.00 in Paramaribo vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $320 per month, with Paramaribo 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
Paramaribo vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Paramaribo and in Barcelona?
Paramaribo and Barcelona differ by about 132% in total monthly costs ($999 vs $2,320 including rent). Paramaribo 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 757% 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 Paramaribo and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Paramaribo versus $1,579 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 Paramaribo and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $61.8 in Paramaribo versus $706 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 12% 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 $999 in Paramaribo versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Paramaribo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Paramaribo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Paramaribo 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 Paramaribo or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Paramaribo 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: Paramaribo or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Paramaribo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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