ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $894 in Buriram.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,482 in Buriram.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,071 in Buriram.
ðLiving in Barcelona is roughly 162% more expensive than Buriram, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Buriram is 33% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61âŽ15.08
$3.04āļŋ99.3
479.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7âŽ58.8
$27.08āļŋ886
153.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75âŽ11.77
$8.13āļŋ266
69.13%
Cappuccino
$2.76âŽ2.36
$1.24āļŋ40.58
122.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78âŽ2.38
$0.45āļŋ14.65
517.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$0.25āļŋ8.11
720.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61âŽ3.94
$1.81āļŋ59.2
154.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59âŽ3.93
$4.22āļŋ138
8.77%
ð Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28âŽ1.10
$1.76āļŋ57.4
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11âŽ1.81
$1.36āļŋ44.33
55.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97âŽ1.69
$1.27āļŋ41.37
55.12%
Eggs
$3.44âŽ2.95
$2.19āļŋ71.6
57.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83âŽ16.12
$18.49āļŋ605
1.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45âŽ8.09
$3.08āļŋ101
206.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01âŽ16.27
$11.01āļŋ360
72.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72âŽ2.33
$3.14āļŋ103
-13.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37âŽ2.03
$1.22āļŋ39.78
94.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08âŽ1.78
$1.97āļŋ64.5
5.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76âŽ2.36
$1.58āļŋ51.6
74.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97âŽ1.69
$1.46āļŋ47.70
34.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79âŽ1.53
$1.19āļŋ39.06
50.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$0.98āļŋ31.90
54.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90âŽ0.77
$0.51āļŋ16.78
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76âŽ5.79
$4.72āļŋ154
43.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55âŽ6.46
$18.90āļŋ618
-60.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44âŽ1.23
$1.72āļŋ56.3
-16.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41âŽ2.06
$2.66āļŋ86.9
-9.40%
ð Getting Around
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03âŽ2.59
$0.95āļŋ31.04
218.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39âŽ24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43âŽ3.79
$1.10āļŋ35.99
302.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05âŽ1.76
$1.19āļŋ38.81
72.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33âŽ25.11
$6.03āļŋ197
386.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89âŽ1.62
$1.24āļŋ40.39
52.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KâŽ33.2K
$27.8Kāļŋ908.4K
39.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KâŽ27.7K
$27.6Kāļŋ902.9K
17.21%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189âŽ161
$75.7āļŋ2,474
149.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21âŽ19.01
$13.95āļŋ456
59.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82âŽ31.52
$18.46āļŋ604
99.46%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0âŽ49.64
$48.51āļŋ1,586
19.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99âŽ17.97
$12.39āļŋ405
69.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05âŽ9.46
$6.97āļŋ228
58.54%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726âŽ622
$295āļŋ9,645
146.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KâŽ13.0K
$9,845āļŋ321.9K
54.65%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3âŽ75.6
$33.23āļŋ1,086
165.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98âŽ31.66
$34.49āļŋ1,128
7.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103âŽ87.8
$99.4āļŋ3,249
3.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŽ102
$70.3āļŋ2,298
69.64%
ð Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526âŽ1,307
$420āļŋ13.7K
263.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218âŽ1,043
$282āļŋ9,211
332.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794âŽ2,392
$817āļŋ26.7K
242.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027âŽ1,735
$662āļŋ21.6K
206.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094âŽ6,073
$2,233āļŋ73.0K
217.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849âŽ4,151
$1,649āļŋ53.9K
194.10%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Buriram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404âŽ2,058
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.45
-37.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Buriram: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $420 in Buriram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $27.00 in Buriram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $256 per month, with Buriram 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
Barcelona vs Buriram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Buriram?
Barcelona and Buriram differ by about 162% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $894 including rent). Buriram is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Buriram?
You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,340 in Buriram 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Buriram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $420 in Buriram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Buriram?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $295 in Buriram. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buriram â a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $894 in Buriram versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Buriram but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Buriram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Buriram?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Buriram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Buriram 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: Barcelona or Buriram?
Expats usually find Buriram gentler on the wallet â expenses run 162% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.