Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Gulu Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Gulu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $130 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $189 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $248 in Gulu.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1723% more expensive than Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Gulu is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.58 €15.12

$1.41 UGX 5,320

1146.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 €58.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.06 €12.09

$12.67 UGX 47.7K

10.97%

Cappuccino

$2.78 €2.39

$2.80 UGX 10.5K

-0.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 €2.41

$0.29 UGX 1,091

865.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.78

$0.14 UGX 541

1371.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 €3.84

$0.86 UGX 3,222

418.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.96

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

68.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.07

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.74

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Eggs

$3.31 €2.85

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.43 €15.85

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 €8.16

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 €16.48

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.45

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 €1.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.14 €6.14

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 €1.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 €2.56

$1.10 UGX 4,136

170.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 €25.17

$32.84 UGX 123.5K

-10.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 €3.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 €1.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 €25.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.58

$1.38 UGX 5,182

33.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.0K €33.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K €28.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 €162

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.93 €19.73

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.71 €31.58

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 €49.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.70 €17.80

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 €9.63

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$721 €620

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K €12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.2 €74.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.07 €31.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €99.7

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 €1,319

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,050

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,696 €2,319

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 €1,732

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,220 €6,211

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,189 €4,463

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,359 €2,029

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

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

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gulu: May 31, 2026

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 Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Gulu differ by about 1723% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $130 including rent). Gulu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $195 in Gulu 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.

A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 12% less than in Barcelona. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Barcelona versus $130 in Gulu – a 1723% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $130 in Gulu versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Gulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1723% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.