Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,902 in Boras versus $932 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Boras versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,641 in Boras versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Boras is roughly 104% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boras is 39% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.12 SEK 129

$2.08 ฿69.5

530.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.7 SEK 913

$19.61 ฿655

372.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 SEK 99.8

$5.67 ฿189

78.48%

Cappuccino

$4.27 SEK 42.09

$1.81 ฿60.3

135.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 SEK 21.53

$0.77 ฿25.65

183.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 SEK 20.03

$0.35 ฿11.53

480.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 SEK 72.4

$2.21 ฿73.9

232.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 SEK 72.3

$3.79 ฿127

93.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SEK 16.52

$2.05 ฿68.4

-18.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 SEK 27.63

$1.51 ฿50.6

85.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 SEK 30.81

$1.40 ฿46.69

123.57%

Eggs

$4.64 SEK 45.72

$2.26 ฿75.4

105.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.37 SEK 122

$16.19 ฿540

-23.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 SEK 115

$2.90 ฿96.7

301.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.80 SEK 166

$9.42 ฿314

78.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 SEK 31.83

$2.68 ฿89.4

20.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 SEK 28.00

$1.09 ฿36.37

160.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 SEK 28.71

$1.62 ฿54.0

79.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 SEK 34.99

$1.46 ฿48.74

143.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SEK 15.28

$1.28 ฿42.65

21.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 SEK 13.91

$1.06 ฿35.31

33.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 SEK 22.55

$0.72 ฿23.94

218.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SEK 13.49

$0.53 ฿17.56

158.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.86 SEK 67.6

$4.23 ฿141

62.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 SEK 84.8

$18.29 ฿611

-52.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 SEK 17.14

$1.63 ฿54.4

6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 SEK 16.34

$2.90 ฿96.8

-42.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.74 SEK 36.87

$0.88 ฿29.32

325.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.3 SEK 771

$53.8 ฿1,795

45.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 SEK 50.1

$1.17 ฿39.14

335.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 SEK 11.34

$0.58 ฿19.30

98.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.10 SEK 415

$2.39 ฿79.6

1661.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 SEK 18.16

$1.45 ฿48.41

26.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K SEK 249.2K

$21.0K ฿701.4K

20.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.1K SEK 149.0K

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-42.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.1 SEK 612

$63.7 ฿2,125

-2.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.06 SEK 306

$12.89 ฿430

140.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.56 SEK 410

$20.52 ฿685

102.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.29 SEK 348

$39.02 ฿1,302

-9.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.95 SEK 256

$3.92 ฿131

561.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.39 SEK 152

$6.58 ฿220

133.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$162 SEK 1,592

$784 ฿26.2K

-79.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 SEK 501

$55.1 ฿1,840

-7.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 SEK 500

$24.74 ฿826

105.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 SEK 806

$94.1 ฿3,142

-13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SEK 1,026

$74.0 ฿2,469

40.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 SEK 8,737

$288 ฿9,620

207.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,478 SEK 24.4K

$602 ฿20.1K

311.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

5.57

-13.82%

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

Last update for Boras: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Boras pays 312% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $93.0 in Boras vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $241 per month, with Chiang Mai 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

Boras vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 312% higher in Boras, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $1,902 per month in Boras versus $932 in Chiang Mai – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 46% less than in Boras. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,902 in Boras, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Boras. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boras, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boras and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Boras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.