😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,243 in Tsushima Island.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,932 in Tsushima Island.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,621 in Tsushima Island.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 90% more expensive than Tsushima Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Tsushima Island is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$6.83¥1,092
157.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$34.63¥5,539
97.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$5.61¥897
150.62%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.09¥494
-10.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.13¥181
147.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.79¥127
160.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.09¥335
113.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$3.16¥505
45.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.58¥253
-21.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$1.60¥257
26.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.89¥781
-60.74%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.23¥357
48.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$10.24¥1,638
79.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$6.14¥981
54.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$15.42¥2,466
24.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$5.43¥868
-51.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.68¥429
-8.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$4.00¥640
-47.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$4.56¥729
-37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$3.25¥519
-37.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.66¥425
-30.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$1.40¥223
5.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.87¥139
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$4.11¥658
73.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$6.52¥1,042
20.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.97¥315
-29.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.27¥364
1.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$1.60¥255
86.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$54.5¥8,723
-46.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$3.39¥542
35.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.96¥474
-30.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$20.49¥3,277
42.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.23¥197
49.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$22.9K¥3.7M
70.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$17.0K¥2.7M
92.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$141¥22.6K
32.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$27.21¥4,352
-15.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$33.73¥5,394
8.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$57.3¥9,164
0.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$13.76¥2,201
50.44%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$13.09¥2,094
-14.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$283¥45.3K
154.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$13.3K¥2.1M
13.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$44.05¥7,046
95.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$29.77¥4,762
24.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$59.3¥9,478
72.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$91.6¥14.7K
26.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$467¥74.7K
228.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$332¥53.2K
267.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$873¥139.6K
208.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$663¥106.1K
203.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$2,828¥452.3K
155.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$1,857¥297.1K
179.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tsushima Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.81
87.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tsushima Island: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $467 in Tsushima Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Tsushima Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $309 per month, with Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Tsushima Island?
Barcelona and Tsushima Island differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,243 including rent). Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,865 in Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $467 in Tsushima Island. 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 Tsushima Island?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $283 in Tsushima Island. 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,243 in Tsushima Island versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tsushima Island but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tsushima Island the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tsushima Island?
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 Tsushima Island safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island?
Expats usually find Tsushima Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.