😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,212 in Nagasaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,912 in Nagasaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,611 in Nagasaki.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 93% more expensive than Nagasaki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Nagasaki is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$5.46¥874
212.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$21.08¥3,372
228.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$5.56¥890
147.84%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$3.03¥485
-8.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.04¥166
168.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.74¥119
168.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.50¥400
74.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.39¥382
98.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.55¥248
-16.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.23¥197
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$4.05¥648
-50.86%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.22¥355
52.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$10.48¥1,677
79.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$3.48¥557
168.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$20.73¥3,315
-7.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.06¥489
-11.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.43¥228
63.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.35¥216
57.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$5.94¥950
-52.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.82¥450
-30.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$3.27¥523
-44.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.92¥147
57.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.53¥84.6
62.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.86¥617
75.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.19¥990
27.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.92¥307
-27.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.06¥330
15.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.01¥162
189.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$115¥18.3K
-74.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$4.02¥644
10.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$2.96¥473
-30.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$19.97¥3,193
47.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.20¥192
51.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$23.5K¥3.8M
65.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$20.3K¥3.3M
62.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$219¥35.1K
-13.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$27.32¥4,370
-16.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$36.23¥5,794
3.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$55.3¥8,843
4.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$14.05¥2,247
47.62%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$13.79¥2,206
-21.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$260¥41.6K
179.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$13.3K¥2.1M
11.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$44.07¥7,049
101.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$29.14¥4,660
26.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$67.1¥10.7K
52.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$60.6¥9,685
91.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$316¥50.5K
396.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$205¥32.7K
495.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$852¥136.3K
228.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$668¥106.8K
195.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$4,621¥739.1K
67.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$2,324¥371.7K
122.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nagasaki: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $316 in Nagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Nagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $274 per month, with Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Nagasaki?
Barcelona and Nagasaki differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,212 including rent). Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $1,818 in Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $316 in Nagasaki. 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 Nagasaki?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $260 in Nagasaki. 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,212 in Nagasaki versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nagasaki but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Nagasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Nagasaki?
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 Nagasaki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki?
Expats usually find Nagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.