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 $868 per month in Granada vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,228 per month in Granada vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,588 per month in Granada vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Granada is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Granada and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Granada 37% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15 NIO 152
$2.08 ฿69.2
99.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.26 NIO 889
$19.64 ฿651
23.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 NIO 257
$5.65 ฿188
24.07%
Cappuccino
$1.71 NIO 62.5
$1.81 ฿59.9
-5.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 NIO 30.47
$0.71 ฿23.66
16.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 NIO 23.08
$0.32 ฿10.48
96.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 NIO 46.92
$2.24 ฿74.2
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 NIO 75.3
$3.63 ฿121
-43.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 NIO 46.94
$1.96 ฿65.0
-34.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 NIO 58.4
$1.50 ฿49.83
6.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.57 NIO 20.79
$1.34 ฿44.32
-57.46%
Eggs
$1.23 NIO 45.16
$2.26 ฿75.1
-45.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.89 NIO 179
$16.26 ฿539
-69.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.06 NIO 185
$2.95 ฿98.0
71.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.10 NIO 260
$9.94 ฿330
-28.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 NIO 140
$2.57 ฿85.3
48.64%
Banana (1kg)
$0.58 NIO 21.23
$1.06 ฿35.04
-45.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 NIO 64.7
$1.61 ฿53.5
9.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 NIO 37.06
$1.52 ฿50.4
-33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NIO 100
$1.27 ฿42.14
114.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 NIO 35.77
$1.07 ฿35.37
-8.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 NIO 35.77
$0.72 ฿23.89
36.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 NIO 38.87
$0.51 ฿16.87
107.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 NIO 98.4
$4.19 ฿139
-35.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.11 NIO 370
$17.87 ฿593
-43.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 NIO 54.2
$1.69 ฿56.2
-12.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 NIO 62.9
$2.84 ฿94.1
-39.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 NIO 4.06
$0.93 ฿30.70
-88.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.90 NIO 143
$53.9 ฿1,787
-92.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 NIO 22.77
$1.23 ฿40.95
-49.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 NIO 58.5
$0.58 ฿19.13
175.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.77 NIO 248
$2.42 ฿80.4
179.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 NIO 47.40
$1.41 ฿46.84
-8.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K NIO 844.7K
$21.4K ฿711.3K
7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K NIO 984.3K
$27.3K ฿906.7K
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 NIO 4,280
$63.7 ฿2,112
83.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.81 NIO 616
$12.85 ฿426
30.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.37 NIO 1,369
$20.22 ฿671
84.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$38.74 ฿1,285
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97 ฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.53 NIO 312
$6.74 ฿223
26.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 NIO 8,477
$778 ฿25.8K
-70.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,004 NIO 219.9K
$14.6K ฿484.6K
-58.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.06 NIO 552
$54.3 ฿1,801
-72.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.08 NIO 1,102
$25.45 ฿844
18.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.67 NIO 1,306
$94.3 ฿3,129
-62.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.97 NIO 1,281
$73.4 ฿2,436
-52.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$418 NIO 15.3K
$490 ฿16.2K
-14.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 NIO 12.6K
$289 ฿9,596
18.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$800 NIO 29.3K
$894 ฿29.6K
-10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 NIO 18.6K
$517 ฿17.1K
-1.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,955 ฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,477 ฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Granada
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$137 NIO 5,022
$602 ฿20.0K
-77.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
5.57
84.02%

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

Last update for Granada: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $418 in Granada versus $490 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 339% 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 $24.00 in Granada versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Granada vs $240 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 9% more than Granada, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,301 per month in Granada and $1,421 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 $231 per month in Granada and $778 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 27% 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 $2,000/month in Granada or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Granada, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Granada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Granada or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Granada costs $868 versus $947 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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