😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,019 in Kurume.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,606 in Kurume.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,194 in Kurume.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 132% more expensive than Kurume, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Kurume is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$4.79¥766
267.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$41.36¥6,616
65.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$4.06¥649
246.31%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.02¥323
37.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.80¥128
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.59¥95.0
249.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$3.45¥552
29.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$1.71¥273
169.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.42¥227
-12.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$1.37¥218
48.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.24¥679
-54.72%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.14¥342
54.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$10.18¥1,628
81.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$6.10¥976
55.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$20.39¥3,261
-6.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.15¥504
-16.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.43¥229
71.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.42¥227
49.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.97¥955
-52.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.85¥456
-28.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$3.20¥512
-42.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.99¥159
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.80¥128
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$3.81¥609
87.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$6.19¥990
27.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.99¥319
-30.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.25¥199
84.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$1.60¥255
86.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$54.8¥8,763
-46.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$4.62¥739
-0.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.88¥461
-28.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$19.64¥3,141
48.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.66¥106
178.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$23.0K¥3.7M
69.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$20.3K¥3.3M
60.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$213¥34.1K
-11.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$26.86¥4,295
-14.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$25.14¥4,021
46.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$55.7¥8,912
2.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$13.93¥2,227
48.60%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$7.52¥1,204
48.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$423¥67.6K
70.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$13.2K¥2.1M
14.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$43.55¥6,966
97.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$13.64¥2,182
171.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$27.11¥4,337
276.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$35.11¥5,616
230.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$204¥32.6K
651.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$138¥22.0K
785.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$521¥83.3K
417.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$351¥56.2K
473.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$4,879¥780.4K
47.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$2,517¥402.5K
106.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kurume
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
$1,526¥244.1K
54.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.67
102.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kurume: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $204 in Kurume. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 55% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $41.00 in Kurume for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $289 per month, with Kurume 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 Kurume: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Kurume?
Barcelona and Kurume differ by about 132% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,019 including rent). Kurume is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kurume?
Barcelona pays 55% more on average, 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 Kurume?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $204 in Kurume. 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 Kurume?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $423 in Kurume. 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 10% 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 $1,019 in Kurume versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kurume but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kurume the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kurume?
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 Kurume safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kurume 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 Kurume?
Expats usually find Kurume gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.