Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrow-in-Furness and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Barrow-in-Furness and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,242 per month in Barrow-in-Furness vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,316 per month in Barrow-in-Furness vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,391 per month in Barrow-in-Furness vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Barrow-in-Furness costs about 163% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Barrow-in-Furness sits 68% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.30 £20.42
$2.04 ฿68.4
1238.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 £56.7
$18.71 ฿626
305.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.56 £7.90
$7.86 ฿263
34.35%
Cappuccino
$4.73 £3.54
$2.03 ฿67.9
133.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 £2.08
$0.80 ฿26.71
247.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 £1.37
$0.35 ฿11.71
422.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.56 £4.16
$2.14 ฿71.7
159.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 £5.05
$3.67 ฿123
83.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 £1.14
$1.73 ฿57.8
-11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 £1.26
$1.57 ฿52.5
7.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 £1.46
$1.20 ฿40.10
62.50%
Eggs
$3.88 £2.90
$1.97 ฿66.0
96.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.76 £6.55
$16.23 ฿543
-46.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.42 £7.05
$3.06 ฿102
207.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.64 £7.96
$10.80 ฿361
-1.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 £2.22
$2.77 ฿92.6
7.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 £1.22
$1.17 ฿39.05
39.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 £1.82
$1.71 ฿57.1
42.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 £3.57
$1.59 ฿53.3
200.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 £1.31
$1.39 ฿46.63
25.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 £1.17
$1.16 ฿38.67
34.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 £0.74
$0.66 ฿22.11
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 £1.04
$0.52 ฿17.35
167.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.41 £12.28
$4.65 ฿155
252.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.97 £8.96
$17.78 ฿595
-32.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.18 £3.13
$1.79 ฿59.8
133.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 £2.84
$3.34 ฿112
13.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.73 £2.79
$0.91 ฿30.35
309.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.2 £66.7
$18.64 ฿624
378.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.72 £2.79
$1.41 ฿47.17
163.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 £1.04
$1.34 ฿44.82
4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.16 £12.09
$8.11 ฿271
99.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 £1.43
$1.23 ฿41.27
56.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K £25.1K
$21.4K ฿717.0K
56.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K £18.0K
$21.8K ฿730.0K
10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 £151
$71.3 ฿2,386
182.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.14 £12.07
$14.01 ฿469
15.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.90 £30.60
$17.93 ฿600
128.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.00 £33.67
$40.82 ฿1,365
10.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 £6.18
$5.72 ฿191
44.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,365 £1,021
$308 ฿10.3K
342.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K £11.1K
$14.7K ฿491.0K
1.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 £44.66
$55.8 ฿1,865
7.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.02 £29.19
$26.04 ฿871
49.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 £53.6
$84.8 ฿2,837
-15.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2 £64.5
$71.0 ฿2,375
21.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 £926
$423 ฿14.2K
192.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 £763
$242 ฿8,110
320.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,001 £1,497
$797 ฿26.7K
150.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 £1,289
$507 ฿17.0K
240.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,688 £4,255
$1,918 ฿64.2K
196.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,464 ฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barrow-in-Furness
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,015 £1,507
$595 ฿19.9K
238.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5
18.00%

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

Last update for Barrow-in-Furness: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Barrow-in-Furness versus $423 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 239% higher in Barrow-in-Furness, 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 $76.0 in Barrow-in-Furness versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $244 – 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
Barrow-in-Furness vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barrow-in-Furness and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,242 in Barrow-in-Furness, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 163% apart. Barrow-in-Furness costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barrow-in-Furness compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,362 per month in Barrow-in-Furness and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Barrow-in-Furness 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barrow-in-Furness and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,365 per month in Barrow-in-Furness and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Barrow-in-Furness, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $852, than in Barrow-in-Furness at $2,242. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barrow-in-Furness it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Barrow-in-Furness and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $852 in Chiang Mai to $2,242 in Barrow-in-Furness. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barrow-in-Furness 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 Barrow-in-Furness and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barrow-in-Furness makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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