πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,015 in Paramaribo versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,740 in Paramaribo versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,464 in Paramaribo versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Paramaribo costs roughly 57% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Paramaribo is 24% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.42SRDΒ 311
$17.58β¬15.12
-52.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33SRDΒ 1,598
$68.4β¬58.9
-36.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32SRDΒ 381
$14.06β¬12.09
-26.60%
Cappuccino
$2.66SRDΒ 98.1
$2.78β¬2.39
-4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18SRDΒ 43.71
$2.80β¬2.41
-57.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79SRDΒ 28.97
$2.06β¬1.78
-61.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95SRDΒ 109
$4.46β¬3.84
-33.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16SRDΒ 154
$4.61β¬3.96
-9.76%
π Groceries & Markets
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SRDΒ 66.5
$1.24β¬1.07
45.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SRDΒ 46.65
$2.03β¬1.74
-37.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67SRDΒ 61.8
$1.92β¬1.65
-13.02%
Eggs
$3.46SRDΒ 128
$3.31β¬2.85
4.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61SRDΒ 465
$18.43β¬15.85
-31.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.71SRDΒ 211
$9.49β¬8.16
-39.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77SRDΒ 361
$19.16β¬16.48
-49.01%
Apples(1kg)
$4.39SRDΒ 162
$2.64β¬2.27
66.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96SRDΒ 72.5
$2.45β¬2.11
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25SRDΒ 120
$2.12β¬1.82
53.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.51SRDΒ 203
$2.85β¬2.45
93.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SRDΒ 47.11
$2.04β¬1.75
-37.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01SRDΒ 74.2
$1.85β¬1.59
8.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91SRDΒ 70.3
$1.47β¬1.26
29.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53SRDΒ 56.3
$0.84β¬0.73
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.71SRDΒ 211
$7.14β¬6.14
-20.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84SRDΒ 289
$7.88β¬6.78
-0.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21SRDΒ 81.7
$1.38β¬1.19
60.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28SRDΒ 121
$2.31β¬1.99
41.99%
π Getting Around
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45SRDΒ 16.68
$2.98β¬2.56
-84.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.4SRDΒ 3,370
$29.26β¬25.17
212.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02SRDΒ 111
$4.60β¬3.95
-34.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46SRDΒ 90.7
$2.07β¬1.78
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.93SRDΒ 366
$29.18β¬25.10
-65.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14SRDΒ 41.87
$1.84β¬1.58
-38.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KSRDΒ 925.9K
$39.0Kβ¬33.6K
-35.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KSRDΒ 931.6K
$32.7Kβ¬28.1K
-22.77%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.72SRDΒ 1,465
$188β¬162
-78.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69SRDΒ 948
$22.93β¬19.73
12.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.40SRDΒ 1,085
$36.71β¬31.58
-19.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.83SRDΒ 473
$57.4β¬49.35
-77.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.21SRDΒ 745
$20.70β¬17.80
-2.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57SRDΒ 169
$11.19β¬9.63
-59.16%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$63.4SRDΒ 2,338
$721β¬620
-91.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,939SRDΒ 71.5K
$15.0Kβ¬12.9K
-87.11%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.87SRDΒ 1,323
$86.2β¬74.2
-58.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.12SRDΒ 1,037
$37.07β¬31.89
-24.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3SRDΒ 2,816
$102β¬87.8
-25.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111SRDΒ 4,107
$116β¬99.7
-3.94%
π Accommodation & Living
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$496SRDΒ 18.3K
$1,534β¬1,319
-67.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214SRDΒ 7,878
$1,220β¬1,050
-82.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,087SRDΒ 40.1K
$2,696β¬2,319
-59.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570SRDΒ 21.0K
$2,013β¬1,732
-71.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$479SRDΒ 17.7K
$7,220β¬6,211
-93.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$395SRDΒ 14.6K
$5,189β¬4,463
-92.38%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278SRDΒ 10.3K
$2,359β¬2,029
-88.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16
3.39
371.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paramaribo: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $496 in Paramaribo and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 748% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $43.00 in Paramaribo vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $318 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 Barcelona?
Paramaribo and Barcelona differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($1,015 vs $2,367 including rent). Paramaribo is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 748% less. 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 Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $496 in Paramaribo versus $1,534 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 $63.4 in Paramaribo versus $721 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 10% 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 $1,015 in Paramaribo versus $2,367 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 β 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 β expenses run 133% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Paramaribo vs other spots: cost of living compared