🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,071 in Paramaribo versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,782 in Paramaribo versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,493 in Paramaribo versus $4,605 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 22% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.05SRD 490
$18.39€15.87
-29.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6SRD 1,976
$69.2€59.7
-23.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18SRD 420
$14.13€12.19
-20.88%
Cappuccino
$2.89SRD 109
$3.13€2.70
-7.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42SRD 53.4
$3.02€2.60
-52.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86SRD 32.32
$1.96€1.69
-56.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63SRD 98.7
$4.00€3.45
-34.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86SRD 145
$4.76€4.11
-18.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84SRD 69.2
$1.25€1.08
47.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34SRD 50.2
$2.16€1.87
-37.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59SRD 59.8
$1.69€1.45
-5.92%
Eggs
$2.96SRD 111
$4.93€4.26
-39.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.96SRD 411
$17.88€15.43
-38.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.30SRD 236
$9.61€8.29
-34.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.42SRD 391
$19.34€16.69
-46.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.83SRD 181
$3.24€2.79
49.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42SRD 91.0
$2.18€1.88
11.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64SRD 137
$2.67€2.30
36.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.15SRD 231
$2.77€2.39
122.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40SRD 52.7
$2.21€1.91
-36.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93SRD 72.5
$2.19€1.89
-11.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49SRD 55.8
$1.52€1.31
-1.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51SRD 56.8
$0.92€0.80
64.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83SRD 219
$7.12€6.14
-18.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.07SRD 303
$8.14€7.02
-0.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07SRD 77.6
$1.50€1.29
38.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83SRD 144
$2.78€2.40
37.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78SRD 29.38
$3.15€2.72
-75.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SRD 3,326
$26.99€23.29
228.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04SRD 114
$3.25€2.80
-6.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98SRD 74.4
$1.50€1.30
32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.05SRD 377
$34.89€30.11
-71.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13SRD 42.33
$1.75€1.51
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KSRD 948.2K
$36.7K€31.6K
-31.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KSRD 938.3K
$30.9K€26.7K
-19.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.04SRD 1,428
$188€162
-79.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.85SRD 971
$15.44€13.32
67.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37SRD 1,141
$37.80€32.61
-19.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.40SRD 466
$57.2€49.34
-78.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.01SRD 714
$16.80€14.49
13.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53SRD 170
$11.58€9.99
-60.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$63.7SRD 2,392
$1,003€865
-93.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,777SRD 66.7K
$17.0K€14.7K
-89.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.89SRD 1,423
$89.2€77.0
-57.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.05SRD 1,016
$40.87€35.27
-33.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0SRD 2,740
$110€94.9
-33.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104SRD 3,895
$123€106
-15.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491SRD 18.4K
$1,673€1,444
-70.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261SRD 9,788
$1,331€1,149
-80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148SRD 43.1K
$2,596€2,240
-55.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500SRD 18.8K
$1,950€1,683
-74.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$476SRD 17.9K
$7,573€6,535
-93.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$398SRD 14.9K
$5,370€4,634
-92.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paramaribo
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285SRD 10.7K
$2,402€2,073
-88.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16
3.16
406.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paramaribo: August 29, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Paramaribo and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 743% 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: $53.0 in Paramaribo vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $296 vs $332 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 133% in total monthly costs ($1,071 vs $2,495 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 743% 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: $491 in Paramaribo versus $1,673 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 $63.7 in Paramaribo versus $1,003 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 $1,071 in Paramaribo versus $2,495 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 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