😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,249 in Takamatsu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,929 in Takamatsu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,609 in Takamatsu.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 86% more expensive than in Takamatsu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Takamatsu is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$6.94¥1,128
154.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$34.60¥5,621
101.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.24¥851
170.23%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.09¥501
-9.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.06¥171
165.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.76¥124
171.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.59¥420
77.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.10¥504
51.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.64¥266
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.59¥259
27.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.96¥318
1.02%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.46¥400
41.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$10.07¥1,636
82.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.30¥1,024
56.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.72¥2,554
21.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$5.31¥863
-48.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.60¥422
-8.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$3.94¥640
-47.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$5.84¥948
-52.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$3.05¥496
-35.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.56¥417
-30.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.38¥225
7.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.89¥144
2.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.13¥671
72.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.94¥1,289
-0.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.89¥307
-26.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.24¥364
6.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.67¥271
80.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$55.9¥9,081
-47.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.49¥568
24.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.00¥488
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$21.05¥3,420
40.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.18¥191
54.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$22.8K¥3.7M
65.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$17.2K¥2.8M
87.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$144¥23.4K
31.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$27.09¥4,401
-17.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.52¥5,446
10.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$55.5¥9,009
4.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.63¥2,215
51.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.26¥1,992
-11.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$285¥46.3K
147.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$13.2K¥2.1M
12.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$42.93¥6,975
108.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$29.82¥4,845
22.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$59.8¥9,709
74.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$92.2¥15.0K
29.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$466¥75.8K
238.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$330¥53.5K
275.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$856¥139.1K
216.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$647¥105.2K
214.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$3,934¥639.2K
91.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$1,997¥324.5K
162.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Takamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$1,719¥279.2K
37.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.78
90.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Takamatsu: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $466 in Takamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 38% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Takamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $306 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 86% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,249 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 38% 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: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $466 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $285 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 4% 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 $1,249 in Takamatsu versus $2,320 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 86% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.