😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,793 in Botkyrka versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,773 in Botkyrka versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,754 in Botkyrka versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Botkyrka is roughly 110% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Botkyrka is 35% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.41SEK 128
$2.04฿68.3
557.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7SEK 657
$18.71฿625
267.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.46SEK 100
$7.86฿262
33.08%
Cappuccino
$4.54SEK 43.41
$2.03฿67.8
123.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SEK 26.58
$0.80฿26.67
247.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEK 23.07
$0.35฿11.69
588.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.24SEK 69.3
$2.14฿71.6
238.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16SEK 68.5
$3.67฿123
95.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 17.06
$1.73฿57.7
2.89%
White Bread(500g)
$3.10SEK 29.65
$1.57฿52.5
97.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00SEK 38.26
$1.20฿40.04
233.33%
Eggs
$4.42SEK 42.24
$1.97฿65.9
124.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04SEK 125
$16.23฿542
-19.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.96SEK 114
$3.06฿102
290.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.40SEK 147
$10.80฿361
42.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52SEK 33.65
$2.77฿92.5
27.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.49
$1.17฿38.99
128.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54SEK 24.32
$1.71฿57.0
48.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51SEK 43.16
$1.59฿53.2
183.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75SEK 16.72
$1.39฿46.56
25.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08SEK 19.93
$1.16฿38.61
79.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.59SEK 24.77
$0.66฿22.08
292.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57SEK 15.06
$0.52฿17.33
201.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58SEK 72.5
$4.65฿155
63.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.25SEK 98.0
$17.78฿594
-42.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.98
$1.79฿59.7
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89SEK 18.11
$3.34฿112
-43.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEK 32.96
$0.91฿30.30
279.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6SEK 694
$18.64฿623
289.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.25SEK 59.8
$1.41฿47.10
343.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23SEK 11.73
$1.34฿44.76
-8.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.08SEK 202
$8.11฿271
159.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 19.04
$1.23฿41.21
61.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 312.5K
$21.4K฿715.9K
52.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KSEK 328.3K
$21.8K฿728.9K
57.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SEK 1,097
$71.3฿2,382
60.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.85SEK 276
$14.01฿468
105.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.88SEK 343
$17.93฿599
100.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.01SEK 392
$40.82฿1,363
0.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.24SEK 241
$6.88฿230
266.86%
Cinema Ticket
$15.96SEK 153
$5.72฿191
179.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,355
$308฿10.3K
-54.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,192SEK 40.1K
$14.7K฿490.3K
-71.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.8SEK 926
$55.8฿1,863
73.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.95SEK 411
$26.04฿870
64.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,106
$84.8฿2,833
36.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,490
$71.0฿2,371
119.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826SEK 7,901
$423฿14.1K
95.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652SEK 6,238
$242฿8,098
168.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398SEK 13.4K
$797฿26.6K
75.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,069SEK 10.2K
$507฿16.9K
110.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,673SEK 35.1K
$1,918฿64.1K
91.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,078SEK 29.4K
$1,464฿48.9K
110.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
5
-16.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Botkyrka: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $826 in Botkyrka and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Botkyrka vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $244 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
Botkyrka vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Botkyrka or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 110% lower than in Botkyrka. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Botkyrka and in Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $2,689 in Botkyrka and $1,279 in Chiang Mai 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Botkyrka compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $826 in Botkyrka versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Botkyrka or in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Botkyrka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Botkyrka and in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $69.0 in Botkyrka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Botkyrka or in Chiang Mai?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,793 in Botkyrka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Botkyrka. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Botkyrka or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Botkyrka compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Botkyrka 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Botkyrka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.