😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,157 in Atsugi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,869 in Atsugi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,581 in Atsugi.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 100% more expensive than in Atsugi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Atsugi is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$8.49¥1,380
108.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$28.21¥4,583
146.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$6.41¥1,041
120.90%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.12¥344
32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.02¥166
175.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.71¥116
190.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.89¥470
59.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.05¥496
53.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.62¥264
-24.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.81¥293
12.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$4.82¥782
-58.92%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.10¥341
66.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$17.67¥2,871
3.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$4.87¥792
101.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.30¥2,485
25.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$5.79¥940
-52.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.07¥336
14.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$4.10¥667
-49.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.88¥468
-4.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$2.65¥430
-26.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.01¥326
-10.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.32¥214
12.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.87¥142
4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.51¥571
103.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$9.30¥1,512
-15.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.76¥286
-21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.30¥373
3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$2.93¥476
2.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$47.84¥7,772
-38.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.37¥548
29.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.01¥489
-29.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$10.28¥1,670
187.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.19¥193
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$14.0K¥2.3M
170.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$16.8K¥2.7M
92.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$141¥22.9K
34.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$15.79¥2,566
41.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.83¥5,497
9.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$68.3¥11.1K
-15.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.80¥2,242
49.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.33¥2,003
-11.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$345¥56.1K
104.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,736¥1.1M
120.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$42.04¥6,831
112.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$25.32¥4,114
44.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$55.0¥8,934
89.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$34.87¥5,666
242.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$409¥66.5K
285.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$282¥45.8K
338.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$874¥142.0K
210.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$661¥107.4K
208.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Atsugi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$3,688¥599.2K
-35.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.78
90.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Atsugi: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $409 in Atsugi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Atsugi pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $28.00 in Atsugi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $317 per month, with Atsugi 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
Barcelona vs Atsugi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Atsugi?
Barcelona and Atsugi differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,157 including rent). Atsugi 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 56% lower in Atsugi. 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 Barcelona and in Atsugi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $409 in Atsugi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Atsugi – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Atsugi?
All in, you'll spend $2,320 per month in Barcelona versus $1,157 in Atsugi – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,157 in Atsugi versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Atsugi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Atsugi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Atsugi?
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 Barcelona or Atsugi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Atsugi 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: Barcelona or Atsugi?
Expats usually find Atsugi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.