😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $1,238 in Morioka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $1,973 in Morioka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,707 in Morioka.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 101% more expensive than in Morioka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Morioka is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$6.40¥983
187.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$32.57¥5,002
112.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$5.11¥785
174.95%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$3.11¥477
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$1.18¥181
150.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.75¥116
160.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$2.61¥400
52.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$3.28¥503
40.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.55¥238
-14.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$1.52¥233
38.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$4.24¥650
-56.84%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$2.10¥323
145.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$11.77¥1,808
49.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$5.68¥873
67.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$18.43¥2,830
8.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$5.50¥844
-42.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$2.43¥374
-9.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$3.04¥468
-14.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.81¥739
-40.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$2.57¥394
-15.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.24¥344
-5.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$1.17¥180
38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.85¥130
3.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$4.32¥664
65.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$7.63¥1,171
9.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.10¥323
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.19¥337
25.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$1.50¥230
109.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$61.3¥9,405
-57.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$3.22¥494
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$2.99¥459
-49.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$22.61¥3,472
55.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.09¥168
60.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$22.7K¥3.5M
61.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$15.6K¥2.4M
102.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$138¥21.2K
35.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$24.73¥3,798
-38.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$32.06¥4,924
17.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$53.7¥8,252
3.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$13.41¥2,060
-12.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$639¥98.1K
58.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$12.6K¥1.9M
35.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$43.78¥6,723
108.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$28.29¥4,344
44.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$58.3¥8,952
89.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$92.0¥14.1K
36.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$517¥79.4K
229.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$374¥57.4K
247.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$1,040¥159.7K
148.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$728¥111.8K
164.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$4,204¥645.6K
83.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$2,129¥327.0K
152.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Morioka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
2.09
51.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Morioka: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $517 in Morioka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Morioka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $311 per month, with Morioka 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 Morioka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Morioka?
Barcelona and Morioka differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $1,238 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 $3,724 in Barcelona and $1,857 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 in Morioka?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $517 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 $1,011 in Barcelona versus $639 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 7% 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 $1,238 in Morioka versus $2,482 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 101% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.