😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,250 in Morioka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,953 in Morioka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,656 in Morioka.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 89% more expensive than Morioka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Morioka is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.25
$7.12¥1,142
146.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€59.4
$34.20¥5,482
100.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.19
$5.51¥883
155.17%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.05¥489
-8.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.43
$1.07¥171
161.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.79
$0.74¥119
178.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.87
$2.55¥409
74.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.00
$3.05¥488
51.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$1.60¥257
-22.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.76
$1.53¥245
32.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.67
$4.84¥775
-60.33%
Eggs
$3.31€2.87
$2.31¥370
43.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.99
$9.97¥1,599
84.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.23
$6.43¥1,031
47.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.62
$15.43¥2,474
24.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.29
$5.52¥885
-52.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.12
$2.51¥403
-2.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$4.01¥642
-47.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$5.93¥951
-51.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$3.14¥503
-35.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$2.54¥408
-27.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.28
$1.39¥222
5.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.82¥132
2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.20
$4.21¥676
69.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.84
$8.72¥1,397
-9.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$1.85¥296
-25.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.00
$2.16¥346
6.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.59
$1.60¥256
86.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.38
$55.0¥8,811
-46.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.99
$3.39¥543
35.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.79
$3.02¥484
-31.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.31
$20.42¥3,273
42.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.60
$1.24¥198
48.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.8K
$23.0K¥3.7M
69.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.4K
$17.6K¥2.8M
85.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€163
$143¥22.9K
31.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.90
$26.96¥4,321
-14.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.85
$33.48¥5,367
9.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.77
$56.9¥9,116
0.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.95
$14.06¥2,253
47.23%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.71
$12.39¥1,986
-9.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€625
$286¥45.9K
151.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.1K
$13.6K¥2.2M
10.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.8
$42.69¥6,842
101.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€32.16
$29.36¥4,707
26.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.5
$60.6¥9,715
68.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$92.1¥14.8K
25.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,330
$475¥76.1K
222.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,059
$334¥53.5K
265.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,338
$872¥139.7K
209.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,746
$668¥107.1K
201.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,264
$5,253¥842.1K
37.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,501
$2,121¥339.9K
144.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,047
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Morioka: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $475 in Morioka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Morioka. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $318, 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 Morioka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Morioka?
Barcelona and Morioka differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,250 including rent). Morioka 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 Morioka?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,875 in Morioka 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 Morioka?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $475 in Morioka. 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 Morioka?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $286 in Morioka. 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 0% 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 $1,250 in Morioka versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Morioka but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Morioka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Morioka?
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 Morioka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Morioka 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 Morioka?
Expats usually find Morioka 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.