Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Nago, Okinawa: $1,239 a month against $2,443 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Nago, Okinawa, Japan
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,443
/mo nomad
Nago, Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,239
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Nago, Okinawa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Nago, Okinawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,443 in Barcelona versus $1,239 in Nago, Okinawa.

  • Barcelona $2,443
  • Nago, Okinawa $1,239

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Barcelona versus $1,920 in Nago, Okinawa.

  • Barcelona $3,519
  • Nago, Okinawa $1,920

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Barcelona versus $2,601 in Nago, Okinawa.

  • Barcelona $4,595
  • Nago, Okinawa $2,601

Living in Barcelona is roughly 97% more expensive than in Nago, Okinawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Nago, Okinawa is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.69
$7.10 ¥1,125
148.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €59.9
$34.07 ¥5,397
98.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.61 €12.09
$5.48 ¥869
148.36%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.75
$3.08 ¥488
0.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.67
$1.09 ¥173
175.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.71
$0.76 ¥121
153.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 €3.41
$2.07 ¥327
85.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.87
$3.09 ¥490
41.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.59 ¥252
-21.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.89
$1.57 ¥249
35.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$4.65 ¥736
-57.63%
Eggs
$4.76 €4.23
$2.23 ¥353
113.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.07 €15.16
$10.07 ¥1,595
69.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.96
$6.32 ¥1,001
41.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.65 €18.34
$15.20 ¥2,407
35.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 €2.81
$5.37 ¥851
-41.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$2.56 ¥406
-23.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.36
$3.90 ¥618
-32.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 €2.56
$4.69 ¥743
-38.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$3.35 ¥530
-38.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$2.54 ¥403
-14.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.36
$1.40 ¥222
9.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.86
$0.89 ¥140
8.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.19
$4.21 ¥667
65.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.01
$6.74 ¥1,068
17.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.98 ¥313
-28.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.39
$2.28 ¥360
17.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 €2.94
$1.59 ¥251
108.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.61 €22.75
$55.4 ¥8,773
-53.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 €2.74
$3.39 ¥537
-9.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$2.91 ¥461
-49.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.87 €29.20
$20.70 ¥3,279
58.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.24 ¥197
50.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.3K
$23.1K ¥3.7M
42.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K €28.4K
$17.0K ¥2.7M
88.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €162
$139 ¥22.0K
31.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 €12.65
$27.03 ¥4,281
-47.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56 €30.70
$33.62 ¥5,325
2.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.68
$56.8 ¥8,994
-9.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.55
$13.96 ¥2,212
17.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.83
$13.32 ¥2,111
-16.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$944 €838
$277 ¥43.8K
241.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K €19.8K
$13.5K ¥2.1M
64.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €77.9
$42.56 ¥6,742
106.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 €34.44
$28.99 ¥4,592
33.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €92.9
$59.2 ¥9,370
76.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$92.2 ¥14.6K
27.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,507
$468 ¥74.2K
262.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 €1,187
$335 ¥53.0K
299.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,692 €2,391
$877 ¥139.0K
206.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,845
$650 ¥102.9K
219.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,356
$2,795 ¥442.8K
155.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,079 €4,512
$1,789 ¥283.4K
183.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,241 €1,991
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
1.81
76.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: November 2, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Nago, Okinawa
$335 75% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$328
Nago, Okinawa
$307 6.3% $21
Eating Out
Barcelona
$267
Nago, Okinawa
$134 49.7% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$232
Nago, Okinawa
$199 13.9% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$157
Nago, Okinawa
$100 36.1% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Nago, Okinawa
$83 13.4% $9.9
Getting Around
Barcelona
$49
Nago, Okinawa
$80 61.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Barcelona and $468 in Nago, Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $34 in Nago, Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $307 per month, with Nago, Okinawa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇯🇵 Nago, Okinawa
🕒 Local time
00:50 12:50 AM
08:50 8:50 AM
8 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
63,554
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.888 EUR (1 EUR = 1.13 USD).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.31 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.61 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Nago, Okinawa 10,620 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Nago, Okinawa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nago, Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Nago, Okinawa?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,443 in Barcelona and $1,239 in Nago, Okinawa, so Nago, Okinawa is about 49% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Nago, Okinawa?
You’d need roughly $3,664 in Barcelona and $1,858 in Nago, Okinawa 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 Nago, Okinawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,697 in Barcelona versus $468 in Nago, Okinawa. 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 Nago, Okinawa?
Childcare runs $944 in Barcelona versus $277 in Nago, Okinawa. 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,239 in Nago, Okinawa versus $2,443 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nago, Okinawa but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Nago, Okinawa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa?
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 Nago, Okinawa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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