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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $826 per month in Granada vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,218 per month in Granada vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,609 per month in Granada vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Granada is about 5% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Granada and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Granada 38% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 NIO 151
$1.94 ฿63.5
112.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.46 NIO 1,189
$18.64 ฿609
74.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 NIO 253
$7.82 ฿255
-11.64%
Cappuccino
$2.09 NIO 76.4
$1.95 ฿63.8
7.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 NIO 31.50
$0.85 ฿27.77
1.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 NIO 24.89
$0.35 ฿11.58
94.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 NIO 46.52
$2.13 ฿69.6
-40.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 NIO 74.9
$3.73 ฿122
-45.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 NIO 43.27
$1.71 ฿56.0
-30.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 NIO 43.60
$1.63 ฿53.2
-26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 NIO 29.98
$1.14 ฿37.15
-28.07%
Eggs
$1.44 NIO 52.7
$1.93 ฿63.1
-25.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.81 NIO 140
$16.21 ฿530
-76.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 NIO 183
$3.12 ฿102
60.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.23 NIO 302
$10.90 ฿356
-24.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 NIO 146
$2.75 ฿90.0
44.73%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 NIO 30.34
$1.21 ฿39.52
-31.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 NIO 64.9
$1.62 ฿53.0
9.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 NIO 32.80
$1.59 ฿51.8
-43.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 NIO 85.2
$1.40 ฿45.70
66.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 NIO 39.39
$1.17 ฿38.17
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 NIO 37.21
$0.66 ฿21.60
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 NIO 36.81
$0.53 ฿17.22
90.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67 NIO 98.0
$4.69 ฿153
-43.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.83 NIO 360
$18.66 ฿609
-47.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NIO 53.1
$1.80 ฿58.8
-19.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 NIO 58.2
$3.23 ฿106
-50.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 NIO 3.54
$0.90 ฿29.26
-88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.08 NIO 149
$19.21 ฿628
-78.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 NIO 21.34
$1.41 ฿45.91
-58.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 NIO 22.73
$1.29 ฿42.12
-51.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.70 NIO 245
$7.84 ฿256
-14.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 NIO 48.63
$1.27 ฿41.58
4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K NIO 843.7K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
8.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K NIO 972.6K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
19.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.9 NIO 3,550
$69.1 ฿2,256
40.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18 NIO 629
$14.08 ฿460
22.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96 NIO 1,390
$18.00 ฿588
110.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.65 NIO 1,306
$41.06 ฿1,341
-13.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.98 NIO 292
$5.92 ฿193
34.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 NIO 4,607
$299 ฿9,766
-57.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,092 NIO 223.1K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-59.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.99 NIO 549
$54.7 ฿1,787
-72.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.50 NIO 1,117
$26.77 ฿874
13.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.56 NIO 1,302
$85.0 ฿2,776
-58.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08 NIO 1,285
$70.6 ฿2,306
-50.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 NIO 14.2K
$428 ฿14.0K
-9.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 NIO 10.2K
$237 ฿7,752
17.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 NIO 22.0K
$801 ฿26.2K
-25.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 NIO 16.3K
$515 ฿16.8K
-13.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 NIO 6,044
$617 ฿20.2K
-73.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
5
105.00%

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

Last update for Granada: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Granada versus $428 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 274% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $32.00 in Granada versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Granada vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Granada wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Granada vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Granada or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Granada, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Granada vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,239 per month in Granada and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Granada or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Granada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Granada and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Granada and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Granada or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Granada or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $826 in Granada and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Granada or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Granada costs $826 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Granada compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Granada or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Granada. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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