Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kamakura and Barcelona

For one person, living is cheaper in Kamakura: $1,138 a month against $2,381 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kamakura
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,138
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,381
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kamakura and in Barcelona

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kamakura and in Barcelona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,138 in Kamakura versus $2,381 in Barcelona.

  • Kamakura $1,138
  • Barcelona $2,381

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Kamakura versus $3,406 in Barcelona.

  • Kamakura $1,853
  • Barcelona $3,406

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,568 in Kamakura versus $4,431 in Barcelona.

  • Kamakura $2,568
  • Barcelona $4,431

Living in Kamakura costs roughly 52% less than in Barcelona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kamakura is 16% below, Barcelona is 76% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.18 ¥976
$17.89 €15.92
-65.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.14 ¥4,920
$66.2 €58.9
-52.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.03 ¥795
$13.69 €12.18
-63.26%
Cappuccino
$2.45 ¥388
$3.06 €2.72
-19.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ¥172
$3.07 €2.73
-64.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥120
$1.94 €1.73
-60.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ¥402
$3.87 €3.44
-34.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ¥501
$4.61 €4.10
-31.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 ¥227
$1.30 €1.16
10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ¥242
$2.10 €1.87
-27.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 ¥562
$1.83 €1.62
94.54%
Eggs
$1.98 ¥312
$4.62 €4.11
-57.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.36 ¥1,638
$17.36 €15.44
-40.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.21 ¥981
$9.28 €8.25
-33.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 ¥2,283
$19.83 €17.64
-27.13%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 ¥879
$3.01 €2.68
84.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 ¥425
$2.03 €1.81
32.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ¥442
$2.65 €2.36
5.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 ¥649
$2.87 €2.55
43.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 ¥404
$2.16 €1.92
18.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 ¥413
$2.15 €1.91
21.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ¥186
$1.47 €1.31
-19.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥120
$0.88 €0.79
-13.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 ¥594
$6.93 €6.16
-45.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.13 ¥968
$7.83 €6.96
-21.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥286
$1.39 €1.24
30.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ¥326
$2.63 €2.34
-21.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 ¥237
$2.91 €2.59
-48.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.83 ¥7,873
$25.46 €22.64
95.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 ¥504
$3.00 €2.66
6.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 ¥430
$1.44 €1.28
88.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.07 ¥2,540
$33.20 €29.53
-51.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥174
$1.86 €1.65
-40.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$32.3K €28.8K
-32.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$31.7K €28.2K
-51.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 ¥18.0K
$183 €163
-37.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.64 ¥3,735
$13.61 €12.11
73.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.91 ¥4,883
$32.93 €29.29
-6.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 ¥8,218
$54.7 €48.65
-4.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.52 €14.70
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.90 ¥2,038
$11.23 €9.99
14.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$585 ¥92.4K
$954 €849
-38.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ¥2.3M
$16.6K €14.8K
-13.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.91 ¥7,884
$86.0 €76.5
-41.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.52 ¥5,612
$39.11 €34.78
-9.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.4 ¥9,543
$104 €92.2
-41.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.5 ¥15.4K
$119 €106
-17.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 ¥76.4K
$1,695 €1,508
-71.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ¥48.1K
$1,276 €1,135
-76.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ¥169.8K
$2,576 €2,291
-58.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$761 ¥120.3K
$1,922 €1,710
-60.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,688 ¥740.6K
$7,281 €6,477
-35.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,728 ¥273.0K
$5,010 €4,456
-65.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kamakura
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,749 ¥276.4K
$2,227 €1,981
-21.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.02
3.28
-38.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kamakura: October 18, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kamakura
$304
Barcelona
$1.3K 319% $972
Groceries & Markets
Kamakura
$285
Barcelona
$325 14% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamakura
$168
Barcelona
$229 36.2% $61
Eating Out
Kamakura
$120
Barcelona
$270 124% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Kamakura
$110
Barcelona
$156 42.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Kamakura
$78
Barcelona
$77 0.8% $0.7
Getting Around
Kamakura
$73
Barcelona
$47 34.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Kamakura and $1,695 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Kamakura vs $66.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $325 per month, with Kamakura cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Kamakura
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🕒 Local time
19:49 7:49 PM
12:49 12:49 PM
7 h behind Kamakura
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
172,710
1,660,122
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kamakura Barcelona 10,440 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kamakura
  • Barcelona

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kamakura vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kamakura and in Barcelona?
Kamakura and Barcelona differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($1,138 vs $2,381 including rent). Kamakura 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 27% lower in Barcelona. 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 Kamakura and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Kamakura versus $1,695 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 Kamakura and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $585 in Kamakura versus $954 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 14% 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 $1,138 in Kamakura versus $2,381 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kamakura 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 Kamakura or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kamakura 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: Kamakura or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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