😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,178 in Nagasaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,884 in Nagasaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,590 in Nagasaki.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 99% more expensive than Nagasaki, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Nagasaki is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$5.50¥880
220.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$20.61¥3,298
233.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$5.67¥907
142.50%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$3.16¥506
-12.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.08¥172
157.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.76¥122
169.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.46¥393
87.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.39¥383
92.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.61¥257
-20.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.27¥203
66.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$4.20¥673
-53.10%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.20¥351
56.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$10.27¥1,644
83.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.46¥554
173.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$20.52¥3,284
-7.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.20¥513
-15.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.38¥221
71.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.43¥229
45.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$5.95¥952
-53.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.70¥432
-27.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$3.28¥524
-45.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.92¥148
64.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.53¥84.4
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.81¥609
77.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$6.13¥981
23.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.01¥322
-28.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.04¥327
18.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.94¥151
222.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$114¥18.2K
-75.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.17¥667
6.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$2.91¥465
-29.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$19.21¥3,076
52.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.20¥192
57.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$23.5K¥3.8M
64.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$20.0K¥3.2M
61.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$217¥34.8K
-13.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$26.86¥4,300
-17.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$36.27¥5,807
1.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$56.4¥9,035
2.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$14.06¥2,251
49.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$13.61¥2,179
-18.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$265¥42.4K
174.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$13.5K¥2.2M
12.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$43.77¥7,006
101.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$30.05¥4,811
23.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$65.4¥10.5K
56.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$59.7¥9,553
99.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$313¥50.1K
387.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$206¥32.9K
492.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$881¥141.0K
217.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$654¥104.6K
210.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$4,531¥725.3K
56.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,615¥258.6K
200.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nagasaki: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $313 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 $320 vs $275 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 99% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,178 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 $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,766 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $313 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $265 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 $1,178 in Nagasaki versus $2,341 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.