😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,248 in Nago, Okinawa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,911 in Nago, Okinawa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,574 in Nago, Okinawa.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 86% more expensive than in Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Nago, Okinawa is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$6.82¥1,107
158.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$35.03¥5,691
98.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.40¥877
162.22%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.13¥509
-10.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.09¥178
157.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.82¥133
151.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.02¥329
127.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.18¥517
47.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.51¥246
-18.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.65¥269
23.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$4.83¥785
-59.01%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.26¥367
54.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$10.00¥1,625
83.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.15¥999
59.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.34¥2,493
24.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$5.25¥853
-48.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.66¥432
-10.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$3.98¥647
-47.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$4.59¥746
-40.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$3.22¥523
-39.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.63¥427
-31.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.33¥216
11.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.83¥134
9.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.07¥662
75.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$6.71¥1,091
17.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.96¥319
-29.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.37¥385
0.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.66¥270
81.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$56.4¥9,163
-47.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.57¥580
22.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.00¥488
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$20.69¥3,362
43.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.24¥202
46.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$23.6K¥3.8M
60.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$17.0K¥2.8M
90.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$143¥23.3K
31.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$27.13¥4,409
-17.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.39¥5,426
11.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$57.0¥9,256
1.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.99¥2,273
47.68%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.96¥2,105
-16.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$285¥46.3K
147.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$13.2K¥2.1M
12.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$43.24¥7,026
106.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$30.01¥4,877
21.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$59.0¥9,586
76.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$92.7¥15.1K
28.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$470¥76.4K
235.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$334¥54.2K
271.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$861¥140.0K
214.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$655¥106.4K
211.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$2,839¥461.2K
165.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,117¥344.0K
147.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.81
87.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Nago, Okinawa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $470 in Nago, Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Nago, Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $306 per month, with Nago, Okinawa 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 Nago, Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Nago, Okinawa?
Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,248 including rent). Nago, Okinawa 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 Nago, Okinawa?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $1,873 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: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $470 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $285 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 5% 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 $1,248 in Nago, Okinawa versus $2,320 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 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 Nago, Okinawa?
Expats usually find Nago, Okinawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.