😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,036 in Hiroshima.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,631 in Hiroshima.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,225 in Hiroshima.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 126% more expensive than Hiroshima, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Hiroshima is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$6.10¥976
188.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$34.23¥5,480
100.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$4.88¥782
181.76%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$3.10¥497
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.10¥177
152.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.71¥113
188.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.69¥431
71.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.28¥685
7.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.51¥242
-15.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.44¥231
46.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$4.90¥784
-59.80%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.17¥348
58.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$5.48¥878
243.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$6.49¥1,040
45.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$11.93¥1,910
59.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.50¥560
-22.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.21¥354
7.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$4.27¥684
-51.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$4.18¥669
-33.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.71¥273
15.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$3.80¥609
-52.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.36¥218
11.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.84¥134
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.89¥623
73.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$7.72¥1,237
-2.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.11¥338
-31.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.61¥418
-7.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$2.02¥324
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$24.47¥3,917
16.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.55¥728
-2.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.31¥211
56.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$23.92¥3,829
22.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.14¥182
65.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$22.8K¥3.7M
69.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$16.7K¥2.7M
93.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$133¥21.2K
42.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$27.40¥4,386
-18.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$30.95¥4,954
18.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$54.0¥8,650
7.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$5.95¥952
252.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$12.65¥2,025
-12.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$173¥27.7K
319.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,794¥607.3K
301.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$31.62¥5,061
179.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$27.68¥4,431
33.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$53.5¥8,557
91.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$68.7¥11.0K
73.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$347¥55.5K
339.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$241¥38.5K
406.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$761¥121.8K
267.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$537¥86.0K
277.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,971¥315.6K
259.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,603¥256.6K
202.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hiroshima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$2,419¥387.2K
-0.61%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hiroshima: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $347 in Hiroshima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hiroshima pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Hiroshima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $271 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 Hiroshima?
Barcelona and Hiroshima differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,036 including rent). Hiroshima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Hiroshima earns 1% 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 Barcelona and Hiroshima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $347 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $173 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 18% 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 $1,036 in Hiroshima versus $2,341 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 126% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.