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: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $132 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $193 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $255 in Gulu.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1661% more expensive than in Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Gulu is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.66 €15.46

$1.36 UGX 5,019

1198.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 €61.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.16 €12.40

$12.58 UGX 46.5K

12.56%

Cappuccino

$2.80 €2.45

$2.85 UGX 10.5K

-1.75%

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

$2.81 €2.46

$0.27 UGX 990

940.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.81

$0.13 UGX 472

1484.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.60 €4.03

$0.87 UGX 3,216

428.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 €4.11

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

63.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 €1.08

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 €1.73

Eggs

$3.49 €3.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.33 €16.05

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.83 €8.61

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.13 €16.75

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 €2.39

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 €2.09

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 €1.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 €2.41

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 €1.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 €1.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 €0.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.13 €6.25

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.90

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.21

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 €2.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.01 €2.64

$1.08 UGX 3,985

178.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.35 €25.71

$33.05 UGX 122.3K

-11.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.36 €3.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 €1.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.60 €25.93

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 €1.60

$1.37 UGX 5,079

32.85%

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

$37.9K €33.2K

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

$32.4K €28.4K

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

$189 €166

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

$22.29 €19.52

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.16 €32.55

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €50.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.66 €18.09

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 €9.52

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

$706 €618

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.4 €78.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.60 €32.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €91.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €105

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 €1,383

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 €1,084

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,712 €2,375

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 €1,786

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,527 €6,592

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,239 €4,588

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,364 €2,070

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Gulu: July 11, 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 1661% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $132 including rent). Gulu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $198 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 13% 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 $2,320 per month in Barcelona versus $132 in Gulu – a 1661% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Gulu versus $2,320 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 1661% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.