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 $812 per month in Granada vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,210 per month in Granada vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,608 per month in Granada vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Granada is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Granada and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Granada 39% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 NIO 151
$1.96 ฿65.9
110.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.63 NIO 1,195
$18.35 ฿617
77.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 NIO 256
$7.48 ฿252
-6.68%
Cappuccino
$2.08 NIO 76.4
$2.02 ฿67.8
2.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 NIO 30.42
$0.85 ฿28.52
-2.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 NIO 23.11
$0.36 ฿11.97
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.26 NIO 46.21
$2.14 ฿71.9
-41.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 NIO 71.8
$3.59 ฿121
-45.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 NIO 42.28
$1.65 ฿55.5
-30.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 NIO 43.79
$1.57 ฿52.7
-23.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 NIO 29.55
$1.19 ฿40.05
-31.93%
Eggs
$1.45 NIO 53.2
$1.94 ฿65.1
-25.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.90 NIO 143
$16.19 ฿545
-75.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.98 NIO 182
$2.99 ฿101
66.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.94 NIO 291
$10.94 ฿368
-27.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.79 NIO 139
$2.71 ฿91.2
39.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 NIO 31.21
$1.17 ฿39.27
-27.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 NIO 65.3
$1.69 ฿56.8
5.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 NIO 33.29
$1.60 ฿54.0
-43.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 NIO 81.5
$1.38 ฿46.56
61.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 NIO 40.81
$1.20 ฿40.47
-7.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 NIO 36.23
$0.67 ฿22.51
47.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 NIO 38.85
$0.56 ฿18.74
89.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 NIO 96.8
$4.64 ฿156
-43.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.94 NIO 364
$17.62 ฿593
-43.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 NIO 53.8
$1.86 ฿62.6
-20.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 NIO 58.4
$3.30 ฿111
-51.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 NIO 4.14
$0.88 ฿29.70
-87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.90 NIO 143
$19.34 ฿651
-79.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 NIO 22.94
$1.36 ฿45.92
-53.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 NIO 21.15
$1.34 ฿45.00
-56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.75 NIO 247
$8.21 ฿276
-17.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 NIO 48.36
$1.22 ฿41.20
8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K NIO 851.9K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
8.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K NIO 966.0K
$22.5K ฿758.1K
17.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 NIO 3,666
$70.7 ฿2,378
41.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.30 NIO 633
$14.04 ฿472
23.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.91 NIO 1,389
$17.49 ฿589
116.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.46 NIO 1,262
$42.15 ฿1,418
-18.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.11 NIO 297
$5.92 ฿199
36.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 NIO 4,508
$309 ฿10.4K
-60.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,911 NIO 216.5K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-60.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.89 NIO 545
$55.8 ฿1,876
-73.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.88 NIO 1,094
$26.11 ฿879
14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.21 NIO 1,290
$83.0 ฿2,793
-57.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.55 NIO 1,302
$70.5 ฿2,371
-49.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 NIO 14.1K
$432 ฿14.5K
-10.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$280 NIO 10.2K
$239 ฿8,040
17.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 NIO 21.8K
$822 ฿27.7K
-27.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 NIO 16.5K
$512 ฿17.2K
-11.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,467 ฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$137 NIO 5,003
$579 ฿19.5K
-76.42%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Granada versus $432 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 324% 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 $33.00 in Granada versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Granada vs $243 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 6% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,217 per month in Granada and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $123 per month in Granada and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $812 in Granada and $861 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 $812 versus $861 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 to 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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