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