Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Okayama

For one person, living is cheaper in Okayama: $979 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Okayama, Japan
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Okayama
🇯🇵 Japan
$979
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Okayama

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 Okayama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $979 in Okayama.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Okayama $979

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $1,575 in Okayama.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Okayama $1,575

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $2,171 in Okayama.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Okayama $2,171

Living in Barcelona is roughly 151% more expensive than in Okayama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Okayama is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.76
$5.97 ¥942
194.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$25.17 ¥3,969
168.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.12
$5.04 ¥795
168.45%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.86
$1.74 ¥274
83.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$0.69 ¥109
321.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$0.69 ¥109
173.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.59
$1.94 ¥305
106.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.06
$1.93 ¥305
134.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.36 ¥215
-3.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.81
$0.62 ¥97.5
225.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$4.09 ¥645
-54.77%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.33
$1.55 ¥244
211.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €15.00
$15.16 ¥2,390
10.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.17
$6.43 ¥1,013
41.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.60
$17.03 ¥2,686
15.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$5.05 ¥796
-40.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.81
$3.10 ¥489
-34.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.42
$5.02 ¥791
-46.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.51
$4.38 ¥690
-36.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$2.17 ¥342
-3.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.93 ¥304
7.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$1.18 ¥186
23.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$0.67 ¥105
40.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.16
$3.77 ¥595
82.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.07
$9.29 ¥1,465
-15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.89 ¥297
-25.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.27
$1.86 ¥293
36.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.82
$1.42 ¥224
121.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.80
$57.3 ¥9,036
-55.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.68
$3.20 ¥504
-6.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.34
$2.60 ¥409
-42.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.91
$21.53 ¥3,394
54.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.00 ¥158
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.7K
$21.9K ¥3.5M
51.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.4K
$15.4K ¥2.4M
105.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €162
$71.5 ¥11.3K
152.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.40
$13.73 ¥2,165
0.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.20
$25.75 ¥4,060
30.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.16
$52.2 ¥8,234
-1.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.30
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.85
$11.29 ¥1,781
-2.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €821
$708 ¥111.6K
29.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$14.5K ¥2.3M
13.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €78.0
$50.2 ¥7,918
73.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.51
$35.57 ¥5,609
8.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.8
$61.0 ¥9,620
73.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$97.0 ¥15.3K
23.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,523
$332 ¥52.3K
412.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,214
$190 ¥29.9K
613.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,332
$641 ¥101.0K
306.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,848
$430 ¥67.8K
379.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,196
$3,651 ¥575.7K
89.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,595
$2,539 ¥400.3K
101.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Okayama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,981
$1,366 ¥215.4K
61.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
2.02
62.38%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Okayama: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Okayama
$190 86% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Okayama
$312 3.1% $10
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Okayama
$103 61.6% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Okayama
$111 51.3% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Okayama
$110 30.6% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Okayama
$75 1.8% $1.3
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Okayama
$79 63.3% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $332 in Okayama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $25 in Okayama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $312 per month, with Okayama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇯🇵 Okayama
🕒 Local time
18:33 6:33 PM
02:33 2:33 AM
8 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
719,474
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.34 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Okayama 10,230 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Okayama

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 Okayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Okayama?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $979 in Okayama, so Okayama is about 60% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Okayama?
Average pay runs 62% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Okayama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $332 in Okayama. 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 Okayama?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $708 in Okayama. 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 3% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $979 in Okayama versus $2,453 in Barcelona, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Okayama but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Okayama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Okayama?
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 Okayama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Okayama are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Okayama?
It comes down to priorities – Okayama wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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