😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,185 in Nagasaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,905 in Nagasaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,625 in Nagasaki.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 99% more expensive than in Nagasaki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Nagasaki is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$5.61¥884
205.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$20.62¥3,250
230.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$5.72¥901
138.46%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.10¥488
-10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$1.09¥171
158.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.80¥125
145.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$2.50¥393
77.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.39¥377
92.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.59¥250
-20.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.28¥201
66.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$4.14¥652
-51.93%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.28¥359
47.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$10.20¥1,608
85.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$3.54¥557
169.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$20.71¥3,263
-9.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.06¥482
-13.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.35¥213
74.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.42¥224
47.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$5.92¥932
-53.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$2.84¥447
-30.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$3.17¥499
-42.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.98¥154
54.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.57¥89.5
56.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$3.84¥605
76.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$6.25¥984
26.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.99¥313
-31.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.13¥336
12.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.93¥146
212.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$113¥17.8K
-74.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$4.10¥646
11.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$2.91¥458
-29.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$19.65¥3,097
46.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.15¥181
58.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$23.2K¥3.6M
69.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$20.4K¥3.2M
59.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$215¥33.9K
-13.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$27.15¥4,278
-17.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$35.72¥5,629
1.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$55.6¥8,759
3.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$13.80¥2,175
50.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$14.13¥2,227
-23.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$259¥40.9K
179.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$13.4K¥2.1M
13.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$43.40¥6,839
102.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$29.96¥4,720
22.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$66.6¥10.5K
55.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$60.1¥9,463
97.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$309¥48.7K
392.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$208¥32.7K
490.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$857¥135.1K
218.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$659¥103.8K
201.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$4,346¥684.8K
71.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$2,051¥323.2K
155.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nagasaki: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $309 in Nagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Nagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $276 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 in Nagasaki?
Barcelona and Nagasaki differ by about 99% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,185 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 $3,539 in Barcelona and $1,778 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 in Nagasaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $309 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $259 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 $1,185 in Nagasaki versus $2,359 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 99% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.