Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Badajoz Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Badajoz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,318 in Badajoz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,931 in Badajoz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $2,543 in Badajoz.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 35% less than in Badajoz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Badajoz 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$13.77 €11.79
-85.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$43.62 €37.34
-56.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$10.36 €8.87
-23.55%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$1.87 €1.60
2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$2.13 €1.82
-60.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$1.43 €1.23
-75.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$2.28 €1.95
-3.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$3.57 €3.05
6.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.14 €0.97
43.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$1.24 €1.06
30.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$1.57 €1.34
-24.84%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$2.74 €2.34
-26.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$14.00 €11.99
13.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$8.33 €7.13
-63.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$12.49 €10.69
-13.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$2.27 €1.95
14.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$2.16 €1.85
-43.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$1.73 €1.48
-1.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$2.61 €2.23
-39.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$1.77 €1.52
-25.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$1.85 €1.59
-36.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$0.94 €0.81
-28.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.54 €0.46
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$5.72 €4.89
-20.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$7.11 €6.09
155.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$1.38 €1.19
32.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.37 €2.03
36.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$1.43 €1.22
-37.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$28.46 €24.36
-31.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$3.21 €2.74
-57.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$1.04 €0.89
29.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$21.47 €18.38
-61.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$1.82 €1.55
-30.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$26.7K €22.8K
-20.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$24.7K €21.1K
-8.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$108 €92.3
-34.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$23.97 €20.52
-42.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$37.09 €31.75
-52.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$42.02 €35.97
-1.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
$4.71 €4.03
40.13%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$8.44 €7.23
-31.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$368 €315
-16.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$4,814 €4,121
207.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$82.8 €70.9
-34.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$32.33 €27.68
-19.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$60.4 €51.7
39.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$74.3 €63.6
-6.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$627 €537
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$507 €434
-53.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$938 €803
-12.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$687 €588
-24.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
$1,788 €1,531
14.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
$1,394 €1,193
9.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Badajoz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
$1,543 €1,321
-58.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.02
65.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Badajoz: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $627 in Badajoz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Badajoz pays 143% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $44.00 in Badajoz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $252 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
Chiang Mai vs Badajoz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badajoz cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Badajoz?
On paper, Badajoz earns 143% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Badajoz?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $627 in Badajoz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai vs Badajoz?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,318 in Badajoz – a 55% 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 47% less than in Badajoz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Badajoz?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,318 in Badajoz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Badajoz. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Badajoz more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Badajoz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Badajoz?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Badajoz 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 55% less than in Badajoz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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