😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,245 in Ichinomiya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,931 in Ichinomiya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,618 in Ichinomiya.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 86% more expensive than in Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Ichinomiya is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$7.02¥1,141
151.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$33.99¥5,522
104.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.35¥869
164.67%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.08¥501
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.10¥178
155.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.76¥123
171.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.67¥434
72.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.08¥501
52.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.60¥259
-23.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.58¥257
28.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$4.79¥778
-58.66%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.32¥377
50.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$10.02¥1,629
82.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.47¥1,052
51.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.58¥2,531
22.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$5.41¥878
-49.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.56¥417
-7.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$4.12¥669
-49.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$5.72¥930
-51.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$3.03¥493
-35.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.68¥435
-33.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.39¥226
6.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.82¥133
10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.25¥690
67.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$8.16¥1,326
-3.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.85¥301
-25.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.27¥369
5.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.67¥272
80.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$55.9¥9,082
-47.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.53¥573
23.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.01¥489
-29.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$21.02¥3,415
40.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.18¥192
54.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$23.2K¥3.8M
63.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$17.5K¥2.8M
84.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$146¥23.7K
29.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$27.50¥4,468
-18.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$34.08¥5,537
9.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$55.5¥9,014
4.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.93¥2,263
48.31%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.52¥2,035
-13.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$283¥45.9K
149.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$13.5K¥2.2M
10.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$42.60¥6,921
109.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$30.04¥4,881
21.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$58.9¥9,564
76.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$93.4¥15.2K
27.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$460¥74.7K
243.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$326¥53.0K
279.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$881¥143.1K
207.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$671¥109.0K
204.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,248¥690.2K
77.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,113¥343.3K
147.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
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 Ichinomiya: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $460 in Ichinomiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Ichinomiya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $317 per month, with Ichinomiya 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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Ichinomiya?
Barcelona and Ichinomiya differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,245 including rent). Ichinomiya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Ichinomiya?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $1,867 in Ichinomiya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Ichinomiya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $460 in Ichinomiya. 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 Ichinomiya?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $283 in Ichinomiya. 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 1% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,245 in Ichinomiya versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ichinomiya but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ichinomiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ichinomiya?
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 Ichinomiya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ichinomiya 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 Ichinomiya?
Expats usually find Ichinomiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.