Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Toyama Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Toyama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $1,234 in Toyama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $1,900 in Toyama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $2,567 in Toyama.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 88% more expensive than in Toyama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 73% above, Toyama is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 €15.07
$5.67 ¥926
203.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 €62.0
$41.20 ¥6,724
71.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.02 €12.30
$4.08 ¥666
243.63%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.44
$3.18 ¥518
-12.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.44
$0.72 ¥117
286.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.79
$0.60 ¥97.8
241.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.52 €3.96
$2.03 ¥331
122.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 €4.10
$2.11 ¥344
121.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.13
$1.22 ¥199
5.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.87
$0.84 ¥138
154.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 €1.70
$4.92 ¥803
-60.77%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.06
$2.18 ¥357
60.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.52 €16.24
$6.18 ¥1,009
199.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 €8.36
$3.48 ¥569
173.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.90 €16.57
$15.38 ¥2,510
22.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 €2.30
$5.94 ¥970
-55.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.05
$3.20 ¥522
-26.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$3.98 ¥649
-47.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.50
$6.01 ¥980
-52.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$3.27 ¥534
-40.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$4.30 ¥701
-56.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.34
$1.38 ¥225
10.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.79
$0.63 ¥102
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77 €5.94
$4.18 ¥682
61.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 €6.83
$9.30 ¥1,518
-16.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$1.74 ¥285
-20.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 €2.04
$2.03 ¥331
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.00 €2.63
$1.38 ¥226
117.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.62 €25.10
$54.5 ¥8,892
-47.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 €4.01
$3.37 ¥550
35.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$3.27 ¥534
-34.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 €25.91
$21.94 ¥3,580
34.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.57
$1.21 ¥198
48.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K €33.7K
$23.4K ¥3.8M
64.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K €29.2K
$18.2K ¥3.0M
83.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 €162
$142 ¥23.1K
30.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68 €19.89
$27.43 ¥4,477
-17.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78 €32.25
$34.03 ¥5,553
8.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 €50.7
$41.93 ¥6,843
37.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19 €18.58
$14.00 ¥2,284
51.36%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83 €9.49
$12.30 ¥2,007
-11.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 €637
$139 ¥22.7K
423.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K €12.9K
$13.9K ¥2.3M
6.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 €76.8
$41.09 ¥6,706
113.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37 €32.76
$29.09 ¥4,747
28.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €90.5
$59.0 ¥9,633
74.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €104
$109 ¥17.8K
8.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 €1,368
$259 ¥42.3K
501.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 €1,071
$347 ¥56.6K
251.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,742 €2,404
$698 ¥113.8K
293.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,746
$665 ¥108.5K
199.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,489 €6,567
$4,665 ¥761.3K
60.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,207 €4,566
$2,002 ¥326.7K
160.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,355 €2,064
-
-
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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Toyama: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $259 in Toyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $41.00 in Toyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 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 in Toyama?
Barcelona and Toyama differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,234 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 $3,474 in Barcelona and $1,850 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 in Toyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $259 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 $727 in Barcelona versus $139 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 11% 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 $1,234 in Toyama versus $2,316 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 88% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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