🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,168 in Umluj versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Umluj versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,336 in Umluj versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Umluj costs roughly 53% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Umluj is 15% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71SAR 25.22
$18.74€16.31
-64.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.73SAR 138
$69.5€60.5
-47.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07SAR 30.30
$13.77€11.98
-41.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85SAR 6.94
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09SAR 7.87
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.48SAR 13.06
$3.10€2.70
12.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90SAR 3.38
$2.83€2.47
-68.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.98
$1.88€1.64
-86.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.98€3.47
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.53€3.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SAR 6.26
$1.27€1.11
31.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16SAR 4.34
$2.16€1.88
-46.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.11
$1.76€1.53
22.73%
Eggs
$2.39SAR 8.97
$5.13€4.46
-53.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.34SAR 27.58
$17.88€15.56
-58.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99SAR 30.01
$9.65€8.40
-17.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98SAR 48.77
$20.15€17.54
-35.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08SAR 7.82
$3.25€2.83
-36.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71SAR 6.40
$2.23€1.94
-23.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.89
$2.60€2.26
-39.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.14
$2.76€2.40
-40.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14SAR 4.28
$2.21€1.92
-48.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$2.12€1.84
-38.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14SAR 4.27
$1.55€1.35
-26.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.06
$0.95€0.83
-42.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.87SAR 10.80
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68SAR 6.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.81
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.47SAR 24.30
$7.34€6.39
-11.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.05€7.00
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.54€1.34
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.79€2.43
-
🚌 Getting Around
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.96
$3.11€2.70
-66.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.76SAR 134
$25.86€22.51
38.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96SAR 11.14
$3.27€2.85
-9.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83SAR 6.86
$1.48€1.29
23.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.29SAR 49.91
$34.27€29.83
-61.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.44
$1.73€1.50
-62.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.8KSAR 172.1K
$36.4K€31.7K
25.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KSAR 81.5K
$30.5K€26.6K
-28.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.6SAR 371
$187€163
-47.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.02SAR 120
$15.14€13.18
111.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1SAR 256
$37.69€32.80
80.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.1SAR 316
$55.9€48.69
50.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.21SAR 140
$17.08€14.87
117.86%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07SAR 49.10
$11.41€9.93
14.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341SAR 1,279
$997€867
-65.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,614SAR 24.8K
$16.5K€14.4K
-59.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.91SAR 187
$92.6€80.6
-46.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3SAR 219
$41.22€35.88
41.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0SAR 364
$111€96.8
-12.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9SAR 330
$125€109
-29.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588SAR 2,210
$1,707€1,486
-65.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349SAR 1,311
$1,286€1,119
-72.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883SAR 3,315
$2,565€2,233
-65.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$553SAR 2,078
$1,942€1,690
-71.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391SAR 8,982
$7,647€6,656
-68.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,395SAR 5,240
$5,167€4,497
-73.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umluj
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,205SAR 15.8K
$2,348€2,044
79.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
3.16
73.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Umluj: September 12, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Umluj and $1,707 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: $37.00 in Umluj vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $336 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 in Barcelona?
Umluj and Barcelona differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($1,168 vs $2,476 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?
Average pay runs 79% higher in Umluj, 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $588 in Umluj versus $1,707 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 $341 in Umluj versus $997 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 68% 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 $1,168 in Umluj versus $2,476 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 112% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.