😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $755 in Nakhon Ratchasima.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,242 in Nakhon Ratchasima.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,730 in Nakhon Ratchasima.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 207% more expensive than in Nakhon Ratchasima, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Nakhon Ratchasima is 43% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.45
$2.98฿100
492.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$27.63฿930
152.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.39
$6.12฿206
131.37%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.06฿69.4
35.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.56฿18.81
401.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.35฿11.73
488.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.02
$1.84฿61.9
150.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.10
$2.42฿81.4
93.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.71฿57.5
-28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.30฿43.87
56.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.27฿42.63
55.91%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.50฿50.5
132.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.04
$15.38฿518
19.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.60
$3.28฿110
199.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.73
$11.32฿381
68.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$3.35฿113
-18.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.34฿45.21
77.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.91฿64.3
8.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.40฿47.14
96.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.52฿51.0
28.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.20฿40.45
49.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.36฿45.76
8.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.35฿11.87
160.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.24
$2.92฿98.2
144.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.89
$16.66฿561
-52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.67฿56.2
-17.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.32฿78.0
3.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.63
$0.45฿15.09
568.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.68
$19.62฿660
49.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$1.07฿35.95
307.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.30฿43.72
63.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.90
$7.49฿252
295.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.25฿42.01
45.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.1K
$82.9K฿2.8M
-54.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.3K
$27.4K฿920.5K
18.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$79.7฿2,682
137.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.50
$13.86฿466
60.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.51
$18.40฿619
101.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$47.93฿1,613
21.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.08
$15.47฿521
33.55%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.51
$4.90฿165
121.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$183฿6,161
285.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$9,343฿314.4K
59.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$29.80฿1,003
200.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.02
$19.63฿660
86.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.0
$78.5฿2,641
32.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$43.80฿1,474
172.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,381
$214฿7,209
636.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,083
$165฿5,566
648.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,373
$498฿16.8K
444.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,784
$430฿14.5K
374.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,585
$3,400฿114.4K
121.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,584
$1,724฿58.0K
203.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Nakhon Ratchasima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,068
$612฿20.6K
286.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.1
-33.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Nakhon Ratchasima: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $214 in Nakhon Ratchasima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 286% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $28.00 in Nakhon Ratchasima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $240 per month, with Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Nakhon Ratchasima?
Barcelona and Nakhon Ratchasima differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $755 including rent). Nakhon Ratchasima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Nakhon Ratchasima?
Average pay runs 286% higher in Barcelona, 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 Barcelona and in Nakhon Ratchasima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $214 in Nakhon Ratchasima. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $183 in Nakhon Ratchasima. 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 33% 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 $755 in Nakhon Ratchasima versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nakhon Ratchasima but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Nakhon Ratchasima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Nakhon Ratchasima?
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 Barcelona or Nakhon Ratchasima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima?
Expats usually find Nakhon Ratchasima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.