🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Umluj versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Umluj versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,460 in Umluj versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Umluj costs roughly 47% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Umluj is 8% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58SAR 24.68
$17.61€15.04
-62.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.36SAR 170
$68.7€58.7
-33.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21SAR 30.78
$13.75€11.74
-40.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76SAR 6.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79SAR 6.71
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.75SAR 14.08
$2.76€2.36
35.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SAR 2.99
$2.78€2.38
-71.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31SAR 1.18
$2.05€1.75
-84.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.61€3.93
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.59€3.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.37
$1.28€1.09
32.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95SAR 3.55
$2.11€1.80
-54.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36SAR 8.86
$1.97€1.68
19.80%
Eggs
$2.48SAR 9.31
$3.44€2.94
-27.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.76SAR 25.35
$18.83€16.08
-64.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32SAR 27.44
$9.45€8.07
-22.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.24SAR 49.64
$19.01€16.24
-30.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27SAR 8.51
$2.72€2.32
-16.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$2.37€2.03
-31.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.28
$2.08€1.77
-19.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.03
$2.76€2.36
-41.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.97€1.68
-35.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.79€1.53
-28.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17SAR 4.40
$1.51€1.29
-22.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$0.90€0.77
-38.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.22SAR 12.07
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SAR 6.36
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SAR 7.87
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13SAR 26.75
$6.76€5.77
5.47%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.55€6.44
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.44€1.23
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.41€2.06
-
🚌 Getting Around
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$3.03€2.59
-65.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.24SAR 147
$28.39€24.25
38.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.10
$4.43€3.78
-39.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.13
$2.05€1.75
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.40SAR 50.3
$29.33€25.05
-54.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$1.89€1.61
-68.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.7K
$38.7K€33.1K
-32.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.1K
$32.4K€27.6K
-29.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 398
$189€161
-43.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.78SAR 127
$22.21€18.96
52.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8SAR 273
$36.82€31.44
97.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.6SAR 332
$58.0€49.52
52.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.32SAR 136
$20.99€17.93
73.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.81SAR 59.3
$11.05€9.44
43.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350SAR 1,312
$726€620
-51.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,866SAR 25.7K
$15.2K€13.0K
-54.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5SAR 219
$88.3€75.4
-33.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.9SAR 225
$36.98€31.58
62.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6SAR 302
$103€87.6
-21.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3SAR 305
$119€102
-31.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440SAR 1,649
$1,526€1,304
-71.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388SAR 1,456
$1,218€1,040
-68.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861SAR 3,229
$2,794€2,386
-69.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633SAR 2,372
$2,027€1,731
-68.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,328SAR 8,731
$7,094€6,058
-67.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358SAR 5,093
$4,849€4,141
-71.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,303SAR 16.1K
$2,404€2,053
78.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.39
30.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Umluj: April 28, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Umluj and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Umluj pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Umluj vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $320 per month, with Umluj 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
Umluj vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Umluj and Barcelona?
Umluj and Barcelona differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($1,237 vs $2,341 including rent). Umluj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Umluj or Barcelona?
Umluj pays 79% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Umluj and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Umluj versus $1,526 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 Umluj and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $350 in Umluj versus $726 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 63% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,237 in Umluj versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Umluj but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Umluj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Umluj 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 Umluj or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Umluj 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: Umluj or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Umluj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.