Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Kamakura Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Kamakura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,293 in Kamakura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,024 in Kamakura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,754 in Kamakura.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 79% more expensive than in Kamakura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Kamakura is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.46
$6.83 ¥1,109
158.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €61.0
$34.72 ¥5,642
100.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$5.45 ¥885
159.82%
Cappuccino
$2.80 €2.45
$3.11 ¥506
-9.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.46
$1.19 ¥194
136.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.81
$0.75 ¥122
174.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 €4.03
$2.04 ¥332
125.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.11
$3.11 ¥505
50.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$1.50 ¥244
-18.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.69 ¥275
20.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$4.84 ¥787
-59.09%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$2.23 ¥363
56.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.33 €16.05
$13.73 ¥2,231
33.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 €8.61
$6.77 ¥1,100
45.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 €16.75
$17.60 ¥2,860
8.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.39
$6.18 ¥1,004
-55.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$2.82 ¥458
-15.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$3.91 ¥635
-46.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$6.14 ¥998
-55.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$3.23 ¥525
-39.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.57
$2.68 ¥435
-33.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.33 ¥216
11.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.80
$1.06 ¥172
-14.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.25
$3.50 ¥569
103.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.90
$9.04 ¥1,470
-12.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$1.90 ¥308
-27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$2.37 ¥385
0.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 €2.64
$1.59 ¥259
89.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.35 €25.71
$54.9 ¥8,918
-46.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 €3.82
$3.38 ¥549
28.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.93 ¥476
-27.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 €25.93
$17.59 ¥2,858
68.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.60
$1.23 ¥200
47.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €33.2K
$23.4K ¥3.8M
61.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28.4K
$16.7K ¥2.7M
94.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €166
$145 ¥23.6K
30.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.52
$27.29 ¥4,434
-18.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16 €32.55
$33.55 ¥5,451
10.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.8
$56.1 ¥9,118
3.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66 €18.09
$13.74 ¥2,233
50.36%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 €9.52
$12.47 ¥2,026
-12.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 €618
$286 ¥46.5K
146.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K €13.0K
$11.4K ¥1.9M
30.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €78.3
$41.12 ¥6,681
117.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 €32.06
$29.44 ¥4,783
24.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €91.1
$55.7 ¥9,054
86.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$91.2 ¥14.8K
30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 €1,383
$462 ¥75.1K
241.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,084
$325 ¥52.8K
280.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 €2,375
$877 ¥142.5K
209.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 €1,786
$669 ¥108.7K
204.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,527 €6,592
$3,876 ¥629.7K
94.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,239 €4,588
$2,385 ¥387.5K
119.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,364 €2,070
$1,727 ¥280.6K
36.87%
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 Kamakura: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $462 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 37% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Kamakura. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $348, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Kamakura?
Barcelona and Kamakura differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,293 including rent). Kamakura is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kamakura?
Average pay runs 37% 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 Kamakura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $462 in Kamakura. 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 Kamakura?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $286 in Kamakura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,293 in Kamakura versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kamakura?
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 Kamakura safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kamakura 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 Kamakura?
Expats usually find Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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