😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,971 in Castelldefels versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,797 in Castelldefels versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,624 in Castelldefels versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Castelldefels is roughly 129% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Castelldefels is 48% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.95
$1.96฿65.9
771.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3€60.6
$18.35฿617
277.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51€10.94
$7.48฿252
67.25%
Cappuccino
$2.58€2.26
$2.02฿67.8
27.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.20
$0.85฿28.52
195.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.71
$0.36฿11.97
441.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.96
$2.14฿71.9
58.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41€2.98
$3.59฿121
-5.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.02
$1.65฿55.5
-29.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35€1.18
$1.57฿52.7
-14.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.52
$1.19฿40.05
45.38%
Eggs
$2.94€2.57
$1.94฿65.1
51.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38€9.96
$16.19฿545
-29.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.50€7.44
$2.99฿101
184.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.12€12.35
$10.94฿368
29.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59€2.27
$2.71฿91.2
-4.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.63
$1.17฿39.27
59.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.69฿56.8
17.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.06
$1.60฿54.0
47.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.60
$1.38฿46.56
32.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.20฿40.47
55.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.31
$0.67฿22.51
123.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.65
$0.56฿18.74
32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56€5.74
$4.64฿156
41.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.81€5.08
$17.62฿593
-67.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.20
$1.86฿62.6
-26.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.75
$3.30฿111
-39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.86€1.63
$0.88฿29.70
111.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.52€30.20
$19.34฿651
78.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44€3.01
$1.36฿45.92
152.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$1.34฿45.00
59.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.33€21.28
$8.21฿276
196.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.52
$1.22฿41.20
42.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.6K
$21.4K฿718.5K
63.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.9K
$22.5K฿758.1K
41.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€164
$70.7฿2,378
165.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67€19.83
$14.04฿472
61.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30€31.76
$17.49฿589
107.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.56€42.48
$42.15฿1,418
15.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.26€13.35
$6.88฿231
121.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.91€9.54
$5.92฿199
84.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€546
$309฿10.4K
102.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K€10.8K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-16.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1€76.2
$55.8฿1,876
56.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.28€32.61
$26.11฿879
42.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8€86.5
$83.0฿2,793
19.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$70.5฿2,371
68.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,051€920
$432฿14.5K
143.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$917€802
$239฿8,040
283.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,858€1,625
$822฿27.7K
125.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,357€1,187
$512฿17.2K
164.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,377€2,955
$1,915฿64.4K
76.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,144€1,876
$1,467฿49.4K
46.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,446€3,890
$579฿19.5K
667.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5
-32.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castelldefels: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Castelldefels and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castelldefels pays 667% 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: $69.0 in Castelldefels vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai 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
Castelldefels vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Castelldefels?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 129% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Castelldefels or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 667% higher in Castelldefels, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Castelldefels and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Castelldefels versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Castelldefels and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $1,971 per month in Castelldefels versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 78% less than in Castelldefels. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Castelldefels or in Chiang Mai?
At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,971 in Castelldefels, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Castelldefels. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Castelldefels or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Castelldefels, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Castelldefels or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Castelldefels and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Castelldefels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Castelldefels vs other spots: cost of living compared