😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,052 in Hiroshima.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,648 in Hiroshima.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,244 in Hiroshima.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 124% more expensive than in Hiroshima, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Hiroshima is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.96
$6.19¥1,011
177.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€59.3
$34.72¥5,669
96.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.89
$4.77¥779
185.95%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.42
$3.04¥497
-8.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$1.07¥175
163.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.75¥122
161.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.86
$2.84¥463
55.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.01
$4.11¥671
12.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.53¥250
-16.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.86
$1.48¥241
43.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.73
$4.77¥780
-58.28%
Eggs
$3.37€2.93
$2.18¥355
54.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.53
$5.50¥898
244.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.31
$6.39¥1,043
49.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.33
$12.03¥1,964
55.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$3.54¥577
-25.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.18¥357
7.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.82
$4.22¥690
-50.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$4.04¥660
-32.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.71
$1.72¥281
13.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$3.78¥618
-52.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$1.31¥215
15.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$0.82¥135
8.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.91
$3.79¥619
78.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.90
$7.56¥1,234
4.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.11¥344
-35.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.09
$2.57¥420
-6.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.54
$2.14¥349
35.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.98
$24.69¥4,031
16.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.99
$4.57¥746
0.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.78
$1.28¥209
59.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€25.03
$23.28¥3,801
23.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.20¥196
51.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.3K
$23.2K¥3.8M
69.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.3K
$17.2K¥2.8M
88.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$134¥21.8K
39.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.43
$27.56¥4,500
-19.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.71
$30.96¥5,055
17.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€50.2
$54.0¥8,817
6.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€18.08
$5.90¥964
251.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.39
$12.73¥2,078
-15.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€632
$176¥28.7K
311.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.2K
$3,785¥618.1K
300.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.6
$31.56¥5,153
178.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€32.09
$27.91¥4,558
31.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.2
$53.6¥8,760
92.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$69.9¥11.4K
69.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,328
$353¥57.7K
331.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,070
$242¥39.6K
406.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,378
$758¥123.7K
259.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,730
$537¥87.7K
269.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,511
$2,124¥346.9K
251.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,571
$2,099¥342.8K
149.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,086
$1,970¥321.6K
21.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.81
87.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hiroshima: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $353 in Hiroshima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 21% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Hiroshima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $269 per month, with Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Hiroshima?
Barcelona and Hiroshima differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,052 including rent). Hiroshima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Hiroshima?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Hiroshima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $353 in Hiroshima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Hiroshima?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $176 in Hiroshima. 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 19% 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 $1,052 in Hiroshima versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hiroshima but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Hiroshima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Hiroshima?
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 Hiroshima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima?
Expats usually find Hiroshima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.