Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,252 in Nago, Okinawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,962 in Nago, Okinawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,672 in Nago, Okinawa.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 89% more expensive than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Nago, Okinawa is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 €15.25
$7.03 ¥1,127
150.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 €59.4
$34.41 ¥5,516
98.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.06 €12.19
$5.49 ¥880
156.10%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.41
$3.07 ¥492
-9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.43
$1.14 ¥183
145.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.79
$0.80 ¥128
157.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.46 €3.87
$2.04 ¥328
118.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €4.00
$3.18 ¥510
44.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.54 ¥246
-19.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.76
$1.66 ¥266
22.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 €1.67
$4.87 ¥780
-60.57%
Eggs
$3.31 €2.87
$2.23 ¥357
48.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.43 €15.99
$9.89 ¥1,586
86.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.23
$6.16 ¥988
54.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 €16.62
$15.68 ¥2,513
22.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.29
$5.24 ¥840
-49.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 €2.12
$2.56 ¥410
-4.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.84
$3.90 ¥625
-45.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.47
$4.48 ¥717
-36.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.77
$3.22 ¥516
-36.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$2.68 ¥430
-30.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.28
$1.34 ¥215
9.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.88 ¥141
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14 €6.20
$4.07 ¥652
75.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.84
$6.55 ¥1,050
20.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.20
$1.99 ¥318
-30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €2.00
$2.29 ¥367
0.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 €2.59
$1.65 ¥264
80.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.26 €25.38
$54.9 ¥8,803
-46.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.60 €3.99
$3.37 ¥540
36.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 €1.79
$3.02 ¥483
-31.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.18 €25.31
$21.14 ¥3,388
38.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.19 ¥190
54.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €33.8K
$23.6K ¥3.8M
65.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K €28.4K
$17.4K ¥2.8M
88.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €163
$142 ¥22.8K
32.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93 €19.90
$26.68 ¥4,277
-14.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71 €31.85
$34.57 ¥5,541
6.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 €49.77
$57.9 ¥9,280
-0.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70 €17.95
$13.92 ¥2,231
48.71%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 €9.71
$12.92 ¥2,071
-13.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$721 €625
$283 ¥45.4K
154.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K €13.1K
$13.2K ¥2.1M
14.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2 €74.8
$42.50 ¥6,813
102.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07 €32.16
$29.71 ¥4,762
24.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €88.5
$60.7 ¥9,730
68.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €101
$92.4 ¥14.8K
25.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 €1,330
$465 ¥74.6K
229.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 €1,059
$327 ¥52.4K
273.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,696 €2,338
$859 ¥137.6K
213.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,746
$653 ¥104.6K
208.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,220 €6,264
$2,854 ¥457.5K
152.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,189 €4,501
$1,834 ¥294.0K
182.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,359 €2,047
-
-
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $465 in Nago, Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Nago, Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 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 Nago, Okinawa?
Barcelona and Nago, Okinawa differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,252 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 $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,878 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 Nago, Okinawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $465 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 $721 in Barcelona versus $283 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 4% 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 $1,252 in Nago, Okinawa versus $2,367 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 89% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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