😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,332 in Kashiwa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,855 in Kashiwa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,378 in Kashiwa.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 74% more expensive than in Kashiwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Kashiwa0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$7.00¥1,138
152.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$27.50¥4,469
153.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.68¥923
149.30%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.08¥500
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.82¥133
242.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.74¥121
178.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.03¥330
126.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.69¥437
74.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.27¥206
-3.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.08¥176
87.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$4.98¥809
-60.24%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.03¥330
71.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$6.91¥1,123
165.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.22¥1,011
58.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.45¥1,698
83.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$4.91¥798
-44.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.72¥442
-12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$4.11¥668
-49.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$6.12¥995
-55.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$2.74¥444
-28.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.31¥376
-22.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.67¥110
120.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.53¥85.6
71.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.04¥656
76.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$9.02¥1,466
-12.64%
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
$2.07¥336
15.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.57¥255
91.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$56.4¥9,157
-47.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.51¥570
24.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$2.27¥369
-6.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$22.36¥3,632
32.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.19¥194
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$23.6K¥3.8M
60.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$18.3K¥3.0M
76.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$144¥23.4K
31.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$27.82¥4,521
-19.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$34.22¥5,560
8.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$54.9¥8,915
5.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$14.08¥2,288
46.73%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$13.53¥2,198
-19.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$281¥45.7K
151.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$14.1K¥2.3M
5.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$40.93¥6,651
118.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$29.62¥4,813
23.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$58.9¥9,569
76.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$112¥18.2K
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$637¥103.5K
147.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$446¥72.4K
177.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$841¥136.6K
222.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$524¥85.1K
289.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,375¥710.8K
72.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,349¥381.6K
123.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kashiwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$2,402¥390.3K
-1.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
2.05
65.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kashiwa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $637 in Kashiwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kashiwa pays 2% 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 Kashiwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $276 per month, with Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Kashiwa?
Barcelona and Kashiwa differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,332 including rent). Kashiwa 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 2% lower in Kashiwa. 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 Kashiwa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $637 in Kashiwa. 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 Kashiwa?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $281 in Kashiwa. 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 16% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,332 in Kashiwa versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kashiwa but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kashiwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kashiwa?
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 Kashiwa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa?
Expats usually find Kashiwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.