🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,036 in Hiroshima versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,631 in Hiroshima versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Hiroshima versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Hiroshima costs roughly 56% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hiroshima is 23% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10¥976
$17.61€15.08
-65.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.23¥5,480
$68.7€58.8
-50.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.88¥782
$13.75€11.77
-64.51%
Cappuccino
$3.10¥497
$2.76€2.36
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10¥177
$2.78€2.38
-60.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71¥113
$2.05€1.75
-65.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69¥431
$4.61€3.94
-41.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28¥685
$4.59€3.93
-6.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51¥242
$1.28€1.10
17.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44¥231
$2.11€1.81
-31.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.90¥784
$1.97€1.69
148.73%
Eggs
$2.17¥348
$3.44€2.95
-36.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.48¥878
$18.83€16.12
-70.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.49¥1,040
$9.45€8.09
-31.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93¥1,910
$19.01€16.27
-37.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50¥560
$2.72€2.33
28.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21¥354
$2.37€2.03
-6.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27¥684
$2.08€1.78
105.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18¥669
$2.76€2.36
51.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71¥273
$1.97€1.69
-13.20%
Onion(1kg)
$3.80¥609
$1.79€1.53
112.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36¥218
$1.51€1.29
-9.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84¥134
$0.90€0.77
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89¥623
$6.76€5.79
-42.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72¥1,237
$7.55€6.46
2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11¥338
$1.44€1.23
46.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61¥418
$2.41€2.06
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02¥324
$3.03€2.59
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.47¥3,917
$28.39€24.30
-13.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55¥728
$4.43€3.79
2.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31¥211
$2.05€1.76
-36.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.92¥3,829
$29.33€25.11
-18.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥182
$1.89€1.62
-39.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K¥3.7M
$38.7K€33.2K
-41.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥2.7M
$32.4K€27.7K
-48.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133¥21.2K
$189€161
-29.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.40¥4,386
$22.21€19.01
23.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95¥4,954
$36.82€31.52
-15.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0¥8,650
$58.0€49.64
-6.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95¥952
$20.99€17.97
-71.65%
Cinema Ticket
$12.65¥2,025
$11.05€9.46
14.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173¥27.7K
$726€622
-76.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,794¥607.3K
$15.2K€13.0K
-75.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.62¥5,061
$88.3€75.6
-64.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.68¥4,431
$36.98€31.66
-25.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.5¥8,557
$103€87.8
-47.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7¥11.0K
$119€102
-42.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347¥55.5K
$1,526€1,307
-77.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241¥38.5K
$1,218€1,043
-80.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$761¥121.8K
$2,794€2,392
-72.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$537¥86.0K
$2,027€1,735
-73.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,971¥315.6K
$7,094€6,073
-72.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,603¥256.6K
$4,849€4,151
-66.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hiroshima
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,419¥387.2K
$2,404€2,058
0.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.81
3.39
-46.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hiroshima: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Hiroshima and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hiroshima pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Hiroshima vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $320 per month, with Hiroshima 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
Hiroshima vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hiroshima and Barcelona?
Hiroshima and Barcelona differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($1,036 vs $2,341 including rent). Hiroshima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hiroshima or Barcelona?
Hiroshima pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hiroshima and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Hiroshima versus $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hiroshima and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $173 in Hiroshima versus $726 in Barcelona. 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 18% 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 $1,036 in Hiroshima versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hiroshima but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Hiroshima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hiroshima and Barcelona?
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 Hiroshima or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hiroshima and Barcelona 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: Hiroshima or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Hiroshima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.