😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,254 in Yamaguchi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,945 in Yamaguchi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,636 in Yamaguchi.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 89% more expensive than Yamaguchi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Yamaguchi is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$4.14¥662
324.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$34.31¥5,487
99.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$5.62¥899
150.18%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.02¥483
-7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.09¥174
156.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.77¥124
167.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.63¥420
69.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$4.95¥792
-6.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.67¥266
-25.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$1.66¥265
22.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.09¥654
-53.06%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.50¥399
32.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$10.07¥1,610
83.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$6.28¥1,004
51.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$21.02¥3,362
-8.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.09¥494
-14.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.43¥229
71.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.36¥218
55.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.94¥950
-52.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.71¥433
-24.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$3.20¥512
-42.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.99¥158
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.76¥122
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$3.86¥617
84.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$6.40¥1,024
23.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.01¥322
-31.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.06¥330
12.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$1.61¥257
85.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$54.9¥8,786
-46.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$4.54¥726
1.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.96¥473
-30.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$19.25¥3,079
51.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.18¥190
55.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$23.6K¥3.8M
65.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$19.8K¥3.2M
64.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$221¥35.4K
-15.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$27.72¥4,433
-17.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$35.15¥5,622
4.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$56.7¥9,062
1.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$13.66¥2,185
51.54%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$14.08¥2,252
-20.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$418¥66.8K
72.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$13.5K¥2.2M
11.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$43.43¥6,947
98.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$29.04¥4,645
27.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$66.1¥10.6K
54.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$59.7¥9,545
94.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$464¥74.2K
230.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$333¥53.3K
266.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$867¥138.7K
210.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$659¥105.4K
205.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$4,679¥748.4K
54.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$2,266¥362.4K
129.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Yamaguchi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
1.67
102.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yamaguchi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $464 in Yamaguchi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Yamaguchi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $298 per month, with Yamaguchi 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 Yamaguchi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Yamaguchi?
Barcelona and Yamaguchi differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,254 including rent). Yamaguchi 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 Yamaguchi?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,880 in Yamaguchi 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 Yamaguchi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $464 in Yamaguchi. 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 Yamaguchi?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $418 in Yamaguchi. 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 7% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,254 in Yamaguchi versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yamaguchi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Yamaguchi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Yamaguchi?
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 Yamaguchi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Yamaguchi 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 Yamaguchi?
Expats usually find Yamaguchi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.