Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Takamatsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Takamatsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $1,163 in Takamatsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $1,855 in Takamatsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $2,548 in Takamatsu.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 115% more expensive than in Takamatsu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Takamatsu is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39 €15.83
$6.23 ¥973
195.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.5
$34.01 ¥5,313
103.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.13 €12.16
$5.14 ¥803
174.90%
Cappuccino
$3.13 €2.70
$3.28 ¥512
-4.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.59
$1.09 ¥170
177.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.69
$0.67 ¥104
192.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.00 €3.44
$2.66 ¥416
50.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.10
$3.06 ¥477
55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.07
$1.41 ¥220
-11.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.86
$1.46 ¥228
47.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$1.69 ¥264
-
Eggs
$4.93 €4.24
$2.20 ¥344
124.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.39
$11.40 ¥1,780
56.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 €8.27
$6.11 ¥955
57.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 €16.64
$16.84 ¥2,630
14.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 €2.78
$5.09 ¥795
-36.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.87
$2.26 ¥353
-3.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$3.14 ¥491
-14.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.39
$4.21 ¥658
-34.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.90
$2.56 ¥400
-13.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 €1.88
$2.25 ¥352
-2.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.31
$1.27 ¥198
19.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.79
$0.83 ¥129
10.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 €6.13
$3.78 ¥590
88.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.14 €7.00
$7.41 ¥1,158
9.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.86 ¥291
-19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$2.14 ¥334
29.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.71
$1.45 ¥227
117.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.99 €23.23
$54.0 ¥8,441
-50.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 €2.80
$2.99 ¥467
8.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.76 ¥431
-45.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.89 €30.03
$19.29 ¥3,014
80.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.50
$1.06 ¥165
65.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.5K
$19.9K ¥3.1M
84.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K €26.6K
$12.9K ¥2.0M
139.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €161
$131 ¥20.5K
43.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44 €13.29
$24.19 ¥3,780
-36.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80 €32.52
$30.52 ¥4,768
23.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 €49.21
$51.3 ¥8,009
11.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 €14.45
$3.18 ¥497
428.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 €9.96
$11.84 ¥1,850
-2.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,003 €863
$572 ¥89.4K
75.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K €14.6K
$12.2K ¥1.9M
39.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2 €76.8
$55.1 ¥8,604
61.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87 €35.17
$31.12 ¥4,862
31.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €94.6
$55.4 ¥8,651
98.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €106
$94.0 ¥14.7K
30.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 €1,440
$411 ¥64.3K
306.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 €1,146
$296 ¥46.2K
350.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,596 €2,234
$1,005 ¥157.0K
158.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 €1,678
$774 ¥120.9K
152.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,573 €6,517
$4,272 ¥667.4K
77.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,370 €4,621
$1,920 ¥300.0K
179.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,402 €2,067
$1,731 ¥270.4K
38.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
2.06
53.40%

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Takamatsu: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $411 in Takamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 39% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Takamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $288 per month, with Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Takamatsu?
Barcelona and Takamatsu differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $1,163 including rent). Takamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Takamatsu?
Average pay runs 39% 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 Takamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $411 in Takamatsu. 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 Takamatsu?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $572 in Takamatsu. 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 15% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,163 in Takamatsu versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Takamatsu?
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 Takamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu?
Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Barcelona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities