🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,118 in Giurgiu versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,722 in Giurgiu versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,325 in Giurgiu versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Giurgiu costs roughly 53% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Giurgiu is 17% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.28RON 55.5
$17.58€15.12
-30.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6RON 233
$68.4€58.9
-24.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04RON 36.33
$14.06€12.09
-42.82%
Cappuccino
$3.45RON 15.60
$2.78€2.39
24.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01RON 9.08
$2.80€2.41
-28.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07RON 9.34
$2.06€1.78
0.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.27RON 14.80
$4.46€3.84
-26.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55RON 16.06
$4.61€3.96
-22.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48RON 6.68
$1.24€1.07
19.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29RON 5.83
$2.03€1.74
-36.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.23
$1.92€1.65
-5.21%
Eggs
$3.23RON 14.62
$3.31€2.85
-2.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.64RON 39.06
$18.43€15.85
-53.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.80RON 30.73
$9.49€8.16
-28.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.91RON 53.8
$19.16€16.48
-37.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19RON 5.38
$2.64€2.27
-54.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70RON 7.70
$2.45€2.11
-30.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.05
$2.12€1.82
-26.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39RON 10.82
$2.85€2.45
-16.14%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.31
$2.04€1.75
-53.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07RON 4.84
$1.85€1.59
-42.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87RON 3.95
$1.47€1.26
-40.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84RON 3.79
$0.84€0.73
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73RON 25.90
$7.14€6.14
-19.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.72RON 39.42
$7.88€6.78
10.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 4.97
$1.38€1.19
-20.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RON 7.75
$2.31€1.99
-25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.04
$2.98€2.56
-77.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.01RON 90.5
$29.26€25.17
-31.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76RON 3.45
$4.60€3.95
-83.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RON 3.11
$2.07€1.78
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.88RON 31.09
$29.18€25.10
-76.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59RON 7.19
$1.84€1.58
-13.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRON 124.3K
$39.0K€33.6K
-29.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRON 126.7K
$32.7K€28.1K
-14.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164RON 740
$188€162
-12.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.88RON 35.62
$22.93€19.73
-65.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.82RON 39.85
$36.71€31.58
-75.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.38RON 187
$57.4€49.35
-27.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.84RON 85.2
$20.70€17.80
-8.99%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10RON 50.2
$11.19€9.63
-0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457RON 2,064
$721€620
-36.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,443RON 29.1K
$15.0K€12.9K
-57.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1RON 308
$86.2€74.2
-21.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.17RON 191
$37.07€31.89
13.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6RON 437
$102€87.8
-5.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.6RON 441
$116€99.7
-15.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$387RON 1,748
$1,534€1,319
-74.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291RON 1,316
$1,220€1,050
-76.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596RON 2,692
$2,696€2,319
-77.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$434RON 1,960
$2,013€1,732
-78.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,835RON 8,293
$7,220€6,211
-74.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372RON 6,203
$5,189€4,463
-73.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,359€2,029
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
3.39
127.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Giurgiu: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Giurgiu and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Giurgiu vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $318 per month, with Giurgiu 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
Giurgiu vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Giurgiu and Barcelona?
Giurgiu and Barcelona differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($1,118 vs $2,367 including rent). Giurgiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Giurgiu compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,678 in Giurgiu and $3,550 in Barcelona 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Giurgiu and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Giurgiu versus $1,534 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 Giurgiu and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $457 in Giurgiu versus $721 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 43% 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 $1,118 in Giurgiu versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Giurgiu but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Giurgiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Giurgiu 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: Giurgiu or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Giurgiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.