Cost of Living Comparison Between Badalona and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Badalona and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,675 per month in Badalona vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,249 per month in Badalona vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,822 per month in Badalona vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Badalona costs about 76% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Badalona sits 21% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.42 €15.01
$2.10 ฿69.3
729.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 €50.9
$19.84 ฿656
197.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 €10.08
$5.79 ฿191
101.90%
Cappuccino
$2.54 €2.19
$1.83 ฿60.4
38.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.41
$0.78 ฿25.61
258.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 €1.71
$0.31 ฿10.37
538.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 €3.03
$2.34 ฿77.2
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €3.94
$3.70 ฿122
23.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.03 ฿67.1
-43.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 €1.79
$1.60 ฿52.7
30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 €1.57
$1.42 ฿46.75
28.17%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.73
$2.18 ฿71.9
45.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.93 €12.87
$15.91 ฿526
-6.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.55 €8.23
$3.07 ฿102
211.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.39 €13.27
$9.87 ฿326
55.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 €2.29
$2.63 ฿86.8
0.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.10 ฿36.19
81.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.63 ฿53.8
1.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 €2.17
$1.53 ฿50.6
64.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.57
$1.24 ฿41.13
46.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.13 ฿37.37
78.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 €1.39
$0.74 ฿24.38
117.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.51
$0.50 ฿16.48
18.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.40 €6.38
$4.28 ฿141
72.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.10
$17.97 ฿594
-67.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.92
$1.70 ฿56.1
-37.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.90 ฿95.7
-15.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 €1.49
$0.94 ฿31.13
84.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.97 €39.62
$55.3 ฿1,827
-16.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 €2.73
$1.23 ฿40.76
157.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 €1.31
$0.53 ฿17.66
186.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.96 €12.89
$2.40 ฿79.3
523.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.44 ฿47.55
20.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K €31.7K
$21.2K ฿700.2K
73.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K €26.5K
$27.3K ฿902.1K
12.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 €103
$64.9 ฿2,145
84.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.45 €13.32
$13.35 ฿441
15.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.45 €22.80
$20.83 ฿688
26.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 €53.3
$40.42 ฿1,336
52.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.19 €13.96
$3.95 ฿131
309.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35 €8.06
$6.71 ฿222
39.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 €496
$787 ฿26.0K
-26.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K €8,884
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-31.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2 €56.2
$56.2 ฿1,858
15.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.24 €19.17
$24.95 ฿824
-10.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €92.9
$92.7 ฿3,063
16.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 €109
$75.1 ฿2,482
67.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 €1,209
$484 ฿16.0K
189.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$696 €600
$287 ฿9,491
142.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 €1,210
$910 ฿30.1K
54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,598 €2,240
$531 ฿17.5K
389.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,269 €2,818
$1,980 ฿65.4K
65.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,526 €2,178
$1,451 ฿47.9K
74.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badalona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,036 €1,755
$605 ฿20.0K
236.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
5.57
-40.75%

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

Last update for Badalona: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,402 in Badalona versus $484 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 236% 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 $59.0 in Badalona versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $242 – 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 in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,675 in Badalona, $950 in Chiang Mai – roughly 76% 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 $2,513 per month in Badalona and $1,426 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 $1,675 in Badalona and $950 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 in Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 20% 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 $950, than in Badalona at $1,675. 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 $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,675 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.

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