🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Giurgiu versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,790 in Giurgiu versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,430 in Giurgiu versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Giurgiu costs roughly 54% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Giurgiu is 16% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.00RON 58.7
$18.39€15.81
-29.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4RON 250
$69.2€59.5
-19.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94RON 35.84
$14.13€12.15
-43.81%
Cappuccino
$3.84RON 17.32
$3.13€2.69
22.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52RON 11.40
$3.02€2.59
-16.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36RON 10.65
$1.96€1.69
20.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29RON 14.87
$4.00€3.44
-17.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59RON 16.19
$4.76€4.09
-24.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.38
$1.25€1.07
30.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50RON 6.79
$2.16€1.86
-30.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.22
$1.69€1.45
7.69%
Eggs
$3.73RON 16.83
$4.93€4.24
-24.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.61RON 43.37
$17.88€15.38
-46.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15RON 32.28
$9.61€8.26
-25.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90RON 58.3
$19.34€16.63
-33.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.29
$3.24€2.78
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60RON 7.21
$2.18€1.87
-26.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.27
$2.67€2.30
-31.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.88RON 12.99
$2.77€2.38
3.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81RON 3.64
$2.21€1.90
-63.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91RON 4.09
$2.19€1.88
-58.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88RON 3.98
$1.52€1.31
-42.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.88
$0.92€0.79
-6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18RON 27.89
$7.12€6.12
-13.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.52RON 29.42
$8.14€6.99
-19.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31RON 5.93
$1.50€1.29
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.86
$2.78€2.39
-29.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75RON 3.38
$3.15€2.71
-76.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.00RON 104
$26.99€23.21
-14.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.26
$3.25€2.79
-77.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67RON 3.05
$1.50€1.29
-55.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.77RON 30.58
$34.89€30.00
-80.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92RON 8.68
$1.75€1.50
9.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KRON 136.8K
$36.7K€31.5K
-17.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRON 122.6K
$30.9K€26.6K
-12.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191RON 861
$188€161
1.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.21RON 37.06
$15.44€13.28
-46.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.80RON 44.26
$37.80€32.50
-74.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91RON 185
$57.2€49.17
-28.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88RON 98.8
$16.80€14.44
30.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.11RON 45.66
$11.58€9.95
-12.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$476RON 2,147
$1,003€862
-52.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,114RON 32.1K
$17.0K€14.6K
-58.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0RON 239
$89.2€76.7
-40.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.58RON 161
$40.87€35.14
-12.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9RON 365
$110€94.6
-26.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6RON 423
$123€105
-23.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411RON 1,856
$1,673€1,439
-75.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302RON 1,366
$1,331€1,145
-77.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638RON 2,881
$2,596€2,232
-75.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480RON 2,169
$1,950€1,677
-75.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,958RON 8,838
$7,573€6,511
-74.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,362RON 6,147
$5,370€4,617
-74.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Giurgiu
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,402€2,065
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.16
127.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Giurgiu: August 29, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Giurgiu and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Giurgiu vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $332 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 in Barcelona?
Giurgiu and Barcelona differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,151 vs $2,495 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 $1,726 in Giurgiu and $3,743 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Giurgiu versus $1,673 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 $476 in Giurgiu versus $1,003 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 39% 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 $1,151 in Giurgiu versus $2,495 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 117% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.