😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,005 in Castelldefels versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,862 in Castelldefels versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,719 in Castelldefels versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Castelldefels is roughly 112% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Castelldefels is 46% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.79€16.21
$2.08฿69.2
803.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.0
$19.64฿651
254.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.89€11.12
$5.65฿188
128.14%
Cappuccino
$2.90€2.50
$1.81฿59.9
60.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.22
$0.71฿23.66
261.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.63
$0.32฿10.48
490.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$2.24฿74.2
54.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79€4.13
$3.63฿121
31.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.96฿65.0
-37.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39€1.20
$1.50฿49.83
-7.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.34฿44.32
32.84%
Eggs
$3.54€3.06
$2.26฿75.1
56.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.35€9.79
$16.26฿539
-30.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.96€6.87
$2.95฿98.0
169.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.62€14.34
$9.94฿330
67.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$2.57฿85.3
2.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$1.06฿35.04
78.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.60
$1.61฿53.5
14.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.52฿50.4
75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.27฿42.14
39.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.07฿35.37
79.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22€1.05
$0.72฿23.89
69.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.51฿16.87
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.19
$4.19฿139
71.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.17
$17.87฿593
-66.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.21
$1.69฿56.2
-17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$2.84฿94.1
-39.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.89€1.63
$0.93฿30.70
103.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.90€30.12
$53.9฿1,787
-35.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.37€2.91
$1.23฿40.95
173.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84€1.59
$0.58฿19.13
217.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.00€21.57
$2.42฿80.4
933.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.48
$1.41฿46.84
21.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.5K
$21.4K฿711.3K
70.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K€25.7K
$27.3K฿906.7K
9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$63.7฿2,112
193.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.28€14.91
$12.85฿426
34.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.66€32.49
$20.22฿671
86.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.00€39.69
$38.74฿1,285
18.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.35€14.11
$3.97฿132
311.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.86€10.23
$6.74฿223
75.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$636€549
$778฿25.8K
-18.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K€10.7K
$14.6K฿484.6K
-15.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9€74.2
$54.3฿1,801
58.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.73€35.14
$25.45฿844
60.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$94.3฿3,129
6.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€105
$73.4฿2,436
66.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,058€913
$490฿16.2K
115.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937€808
$289฿9,596
223.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,911€1,649
$894฿29.6K
113.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,366€1,179
$517฿17.1K
164.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,431€2,961
$1,955฿64.9K
75.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,304€1,989
$1,477฿49.0K
56.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castelldefels
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,589€3,960
$602฿20.0K
662.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.12
5.57
-43.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castelldefels: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,058 in Castelldefels and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castelldefels pays 662% 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 Castelldefels vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $240 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 Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Castelldefels or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 662% 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: $1,058 in Castelldefels versus $490 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 $2,005 per month in Castelldefels versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 112% 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 54% 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 $947 in Chiang Mai versus $2,005 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 112% 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