😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,188 in Toyama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,866 in Toyama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,543 in Toyama.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 99% more expensive than Toyama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Toyama is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$5.71¥913
207.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$41.63¥6,659
64.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$4.24¥678
231.60%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.07¥491
-9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.67¥108
317.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.64¥102
221.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.13¥341
109.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$2.04¥327
125.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.24¥198
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.80¥127
153.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.99¥798
-61.52%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.31¥370
43.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$6.41¥1,025
187.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$3.51¥561
170.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$15.29¥2,446
25.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$5.88¥940
-55.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$3.14¥502
-21.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$3.97¥636
-46.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$6.01¥962
-52.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$3.26¥521
-37.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$4.35¥695
-57.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$1.35¥216
8.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.63¥100
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$4.24¥679
68.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$9.29¥1,486
-15.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.75¥281
-21.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.04¥327
13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$1.39¥222
114.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$56.4¥9,013
-48.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$3.37¥540
36.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$3.30¥527
-37.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$21.77¥3,482
34.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.20¥193
53.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$23.0K¥3.7M
69.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$18.3K¥2.9M
78.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$145¥23.1K
29.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$27.48¥4,396
-16.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$33.49¥5,356
9.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$42.17¥6,746
36.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$13.60¥2,175
52.21%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$12.55¥2,008
-10.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$137¥22.0K
424.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$13.7K¥2.2M
9.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$42.39¥6,781
103.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$29.83¥4,771
24.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$60.1¥9,610
69.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$110¥17.5K
5.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$262¥41.9K
485.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$343¥54.9K
255.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$704¥112.6K
283.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$655¥104.7K
207.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$4,182¥669.0K
72.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$2,569¥410.9K
101.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
2.05
65.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Toyama: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $262 in Toyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $42.00 in Toyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $289 per month, with Toyama 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 Toyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Toyama?
Barcelona and Toyama differ by about 99% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,188 including rent). Toyama 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 Toyama?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,783 in Toyama 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 Toyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $262 in Toyama. 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 Toyama?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $137 in Toyama. 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 10% 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 $1,188 in Toyama versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Toyama but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Toyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Toyama?
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 Toyama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Toyama 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 Toyama?
Expats usually find Toyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.