😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,375 in Yokohama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,131 in Yokohama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,886 in Yokohama.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 80% more expensive than in Yokohama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Yokohama1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$6.57¥1,026
185.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$42.14¥6,575
64.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$5.24¥818
162.79%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.58¥558
-13.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$1.12¥175
152.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.76¥119
147.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.65¥413
50.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.16¥493
43.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.49¥233
-14.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.76¥275
22.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$3.68¥575
-52.17%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$2.11¥329
143.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$11.95¥1,865
49.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$6.13¥956
57.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$15.04¥2,346
33.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$5.75¥897
-43.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.88¥450
-22.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$3.04¥474
-14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.27¥666
-35.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.57¥401
-14.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$2.75¥428
-22.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.33¥208
16.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.77¥120
23.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$3.93¥613
86.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$6.43¥1,003
25.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.84¥287
-16.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.07¥322
34.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$1.46¥227
113.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$57.3¥8,932
-54.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.32¥518
-1.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.65¥414
-44.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$21.00¥3,276
63.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.09¥170
58.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$21.8K¥3.4M
66.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$18.8K¥2.9M
62.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$138¥21.5K
35.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$24.34¥3,798
-37.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$32.91¥5,135
14.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$52.9¥8,251
5.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$11.77¥1,837
45.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$12.82¥2,000
-11.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$654¥102.1K
52.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$15.2K¥2.4M
8.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$64.3¥10.0K
44.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$33.86¥5,283
21.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$63.1¥9,849
76.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$104¥16.2K
20.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$1,179¥184.0K
44.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$458¥71.5K
180.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$2,316¥361.4K
10.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$884¥138.0K
119.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$6,991¥1.1M
9.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$4,099¥639.5K
26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$2,778¥433.4K
-15.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
2.12
49.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Yokohama: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $1,179 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yokohama pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $42.00 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $301 per month, with Yokohama 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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Yokohama?
Barcelona and Yokohama differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,375 including rent). Yokohama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Yokohama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $1,179 in Yokohama. 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 Yokohama?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $654 in Yokohama. 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 12% 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 $1,375 in Yokohama versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yokohama but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Yokohama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Yokohama?
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 Yokohama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Yokohama 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 Yokohama?
Expats usually find Yokohama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.