😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,225 in Koriyama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,909 in Koriyama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,594 in Koriyama.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 89% more expensive than in Koriyama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Koriyama is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$7.04¥1,143
150.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$34.70¥5,639
100.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.25¥853
169.71%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.05¥496
-8.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.06¥172
165.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.76¥124
171.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.55¥414
80.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.08¥500
52.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.60¥260
-23.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.57¥255
29.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$4.88¥793
-59.43%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.29¥371
52.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$9.99¥1,623
83.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.51¥1,057
51.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.31¥2,487
24.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$5.46¥887
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.63¥428
-9.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$3.95¥641
-47.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$5.86¥952
-53.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$3.06¥497
-35.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.58¥419
-30.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.32¥214
12.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.83¥135
9.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.14¥673
72.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.29¥1,184
8.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.86¥302
-25.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.25¥366
6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.64¥267
83.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$55.6¥9,028
-47.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.41¥555
27.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.00¥488
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$20.74¥3,370
42.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.19¥193
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$23.4K¥3.8M
61.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$17.5K¥2.9M
84.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$146¥23.7K
29.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$26.97¥4,382
-17.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.93¥5,513
9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$55.5¥9,011
4.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$14.09¥2,289
46.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.44¥2,021
-12.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$282¥45.9K
150.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$13.3K¥2.2M
11.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$43.45¥7,060
105.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$29.86¥4,851
22.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$59.4¥9,657
75.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$92.3¥15.0K
29.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Koriyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$475¥77.1K
232.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$324¥52.7K
281.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$872¥141.7K
210.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$658¥106.9K
209.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,832¥785.2K
55.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,187¥355.3K
139.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Koriyama
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 Koriyama: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $475 in Koriyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Koriyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $315 per month, with Koriyama 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 Koriyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Koriyama?
Barcelona and Koriyama differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,225 including rent). Koriyama 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 Koriyama?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $1,837 in Koriyama 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 Koriyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $475 in Koriyama. 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 Koriyama?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $282 in Koriyama. 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 2% 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 $1,225 in Koriyama versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Koriyama but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Koriyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Koriyama?
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 Koriyama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Koriyama 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 Koriyama?
Expats usually find Koriyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.