Barcelona vs Koh Phangan: cost of living for digital nomads

Barcelona, Spain and Koh Phangan, Thailand, 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

  • Koh Phangan is about 51% cheaper than Barcelona for a month of nomad living ($1,250 vs $2,550).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Koh Phangan against $1,350 in Barcelona.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Barcelona: 300 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
  • Barcelona is mediterranean; Koh Phangan is tropical.

Barcelona wins 3 of the measured lines; Koh Phangan wins 4.

LineBarcelonaKoh Phangan
Monthly total (USD)$2,550$1,250
Rent$1,350$500
Food$540$350
Transport$55$60
Coworking$160$100
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)30060
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingcoastisland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Koh Phangan

Thai island with a fast-growing nomad scene around Sri Thanu — beaches, wellness, low cost.

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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.