ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $986 in Koh Chang versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,771 in Koh Chang versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,556 in Koh Chang versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
ðLiving in Koh Chang costs roughly 58% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Koh Chang is 26% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66āļŋ119
$17.61âŽ15.04
-79.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.12āļŋ1,207
$68.7âŽ58.7
-45.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.89āļŋ224
$13.75âŽ11.74
-49.89%
Cappuccino
$2.46āļŋ80.0
$2.76âŽ2.36
-10.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59āļŋ19.17
$2.78âŽ2.38
-78.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29āļŋ9.27
$2.05âŽ1.75
-85.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00āļŋ65.0
$4.61âŽ3.93
-56.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89āļŋ93.8
$4.59âŽ3.92
-37.04%
ð Groceries & Markets
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95āļŋ63.4
$1.28âŽ1.09
52.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69āļŋ54.9
$2.11âŽ1.80
-19.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01āļŋ65.3
$1.97âŽ1.68
2.03%
Eggs
$1.99āļŋ64.7
$3.44âŽ2.94
-42.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.70āļŋ575
$18.83âŽ16.08
-6.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$9.45âŽ8.07
-64.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.84āļŋ385
$19.01âŽ16.24
-37.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91āļŋ94.7
$2.72âŽ2.32
6.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.66
$2.37âŽ2.03
-35.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07āļŋ67.3
$2.08âŽ1.77
-0.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89āļŋ61.3
$2.76âŽ2.36
-31.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45āļŋ47.10
$1.97âŽ1.68
-26.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35āļŋ43.83
$1.79âŽ1.53
-24.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93āļŋ30.31
$1.51âŽ1.29
-38.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43āļŋ14.02
$0.90âŽ0.77
-52.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86āļŋ126
$6.76âŽ5.77
-42.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.39āļŋ565
$7.55âŽ6.44
130.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68āļŋ54.5
$1.44âŽ1.23
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39āļŋ77.9
$2.41âŽ2.06
-0.83%
ð Getting Around
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14āļŋ36.98
$3.03âŽ2.59
-62.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39âŽ24.25
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.42āļŋ78.5
$4.43âŽ3.78
-45.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78āļŋ25.44
$2.05âŽ1.75
-61.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.14āļŋ362
$29.33âŽ25.05
-62.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08āļŋ35.03
$1.89âŽ1.61
-42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4Kāļŋ728.8K
$38.7KâŽ33.1K
-42.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7Kāļŋ867.2K
$32.4KâŽ27.6K
-17.58%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118āļŋ3,842
$189âŽ161
-37.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.83āļŋ417
$22.21âŽ18.96
-42.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.68āļŋ575
$36.82âŽ31.44
-51.98%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1āļŋ1,694
$58.0âŽ49.52
-10.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.32āļŋ466
$20.99âŽ17.93
-31.78%
Cinema Ticket
$7.73āļŋ251
$11.05âŽ9.44
-30.05%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628āļŋ20.4K
$726âŽ620
-13.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2Kāļŋ460.9K
$15.2KâŽ13.0K
-6.87%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7āļŋ1,843
$88.3âŽ75.4
-35.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.40āļŋ1,086
$36.98âŽ31.58
-9.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108āļŋ3,518
$103âŽ87.6
5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9āļŋ2,596
$119âŽ102
-33.01%
ð Accommodation & Living
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$401āļŋ13.0K
$1,526âŽ1,304
-73.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289āļŋ9,397
$1,218âŽ1,040
-76.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318āļŋ42.8K
$2,794âŽ2,386
-52.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960āļŋ31.2K
$2,027âŽ1,731
-52.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,454āļŋ79.8K
$7,094âŽ6,058
-65.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,721āļŋ56.0K
$4,849âŽ4,141
-64.51%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Koh Chang
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,404âŽ2,053
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.39
57.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koh Chang: April 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $401 in Koh Chang and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $37.00 in Koh Chang vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $320 per month, with Koh Chang 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
Koh Chang vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koh Chang and Barcelona?
Koh Chang and Barcelona differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($986 vs $2,341 including rent). Koh Chang is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Koh Chang compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,479 in Koh Chang and $3,512 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Koh Chang and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $401 in Koh Chang versus $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Koh Chang and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $628 in Koh Chang versus $726 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Koh Chang â a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $986 in Koh Chang versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Koh Chang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Chang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Koh Chang and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Koh Chang or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koh Chang and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Koh Chang or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Koh Chang gentler on the wallet â expenses run 138% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.