Bangkok vs Barcelona: cost of living for digital nomads

Bangkok, Thailand and Barcelona, Spain, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Bangkok is about 33% cheaper than Barcelona for a month of nomad living ($1,720 vs $2,550).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Bangkok against $1,350 in Barcelona.
  • Barcelona scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Barcelona: 300 Mbps typical against 230 Mbps.
  • Bangkok is tropical; Barcelona is mediterranean.

Bangkok wins 4 of the measured lines; Barcelona wins 3.

LineBangkokBarcelona
Monthly total (USD)$1,720$2,550
Rent$720$1,350
Food$420$540
Transport$60$55
Coworking$130$160
Safety (out of 10)7/108/10
Internet (Mbps)230300
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/109/10

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.