😐A single person spends $2,510 per month in Badalona vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,687 per month in Badalona vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,863 per month in Badalona vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Badalona costs about 189% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Badalona sits 87% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29€14.90
$1.98฿64.3
773.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6€49.61
$18.80฿612
206.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.56€9.96
$7.75฿252
49.16%
Cappuccino
$2.57€2.22
$1.92฿62.5
33.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.30
$0.79฿25.79
237.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.77
$0.36฿11.62
472.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.92
$2.21฿72.1
53.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70€4.05
$3.66฿119
28.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$1.65฿53.8
-26.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97€1.70
$1.63฿53.2
20.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.40
$1.19฿38.86
36.97%
Eggs
$2.85€2.45
$2.00฿65.1
42.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.54€12.53
$15.98฿520
-9.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.98€7.74
$3.03฿98.5
196.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.62€15.18
$10.86฿354
62.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.76฿90.0
-3.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$1.18฿38.42
150.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.64฿53.5
32.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.52฿49.51
87.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$1.38฿45.10
3.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$1.19฿38.84
20.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.70฿22.86
110.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.61
$0.56฿18.13
26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.48
$4.58฿149
38.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€4.99
$16.56฿539
-65.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52€1.31
$1.83฿59.5
-16.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.74
$3.20฿104
-36.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.88฿28.56
227.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.87€39.52
$18.72฿610
145.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.52
$1.36฿44.16
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02€1.74
$1.34฿43.65
50.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.19€19.12
$7.84฿256
183.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.57
$1.23฿39.92
47.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.0K
$21.6K฿704.3K
76.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K€26.2K
$22.5K฿734.3K
34.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€128
$70.5฿2,298
110.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.12€17.33
$13.68฿445
47.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30€31.27
$17.45฿568
108.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3€44.16
$41.33฿1,346
24.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.41€29.65
$6.96฿227
394.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.20
$5.77฿188
64.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$327€282
$307฿10.0K
6.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,957€5,994
$14.6K฿475.9K
-52.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5€81.4
$55.8฿1,817
69.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95€31.84
$26.21฿854
40.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.1
$85.8฿2,793
20.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$72.2฿2,353
65.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,722€1,483
$430฿14.0K
300.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,472€1,269
$239฿7,774
516.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,306€1,987
$817฿26.6K
182.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,560€2,205
$511฿16.6K
401.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,504€3,019
$1,484฿48.3K
136.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,041€1,758
$619฿20.2K
229.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5
-30.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Badalona: June 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,722 in Badalona versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 230% higher in Badalona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Badalona versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Badalona vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Badalona and Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,510 in Badalona, $869 in Chiang Mai – roughly 189% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Badalona compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,765 per month in Badalona and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Badalona and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Badalona or Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,510 in Badalona and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Badalona and Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 145% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Badalona at $2,510. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Badalona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Badalona and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $2,510 in Badalona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Badalona or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Badalona and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.