Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Gulu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Gulu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $123 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $182 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $242 in Gulu.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1766% more expensive than in Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Gulu is 91% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.33

$1.36 UGX 5,310

1193.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.10

$12.06 UGX 47.1K

-3.98%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$2.60 UGX 10.2K

19.23%

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

$2.49 €2.17

$0.25 UGX 967

896.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$0.13 UGX 527

1238.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$0.77 UGX 3,029

351.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$2.64 UGX 10.3K

30.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.73

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.62

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.61

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.19

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

$1.07 UGX 4,200

120.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.63

$32.29 UGX 126.2K

44.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$1.37 UGX 5,369

68.61%

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

$34.1K €29.7K

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

$41.4K €36.1K

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

$169 €147

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

$19.33 €16.85

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.21

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.57

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.94

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.34

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

$696 €607

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.62

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,449

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,584

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,786

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,892

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,422

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Gulu: September 14, 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

Lisbon vs Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1766% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $185 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 44% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $123 in Gulu – a 1766% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $123 in Gulu versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gulu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lisbon 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 1766% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.