😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,922 in Botkyrka versus $932 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,955 in Botkyrka versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,989 in Botkyrka versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Botkyrka is roughly 106% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Botkyrka is 40% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.43SEK 142
$2.08฿69.2
593.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8SEK 656
$19.61฿652
240.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.24SEK 101
$5.67฿189
80.60%
Cappuccino
$4.56SEK 44.80
$1.81฿60.0
151.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SEK 26.54
$0.77฿25.55
250.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32SEK 22.80
$0.35฿11.48
562.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.49SEK 73.6
$2.21฿73.6
238.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43SEK 73.0
$3.79฿126
96.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 17.03
$2.05฿68.1
-15.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19SEK 31.30
$1.51฿50.4
111.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.99SEK 39.22
$1.40฿46.51
185.00%
Eggs
$5.15SEK 50.6
$2.26฿75.1
127.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34SEK 131
$16.19฿538
-17.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.70SEK 135
$2.90฿96.3
372.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.65SEK 173
$9.42฿313
87.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35SEK 32.90
$2.68฿89.1
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 26.28
$1.09฿36.23
144.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42SEK 23.77
$1.62฿53.8
49.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.62SEK 45.44
$1.46฿48.55
216.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75SEK 17.15
$1.28฿42.48
36.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90SEK 18.62
$1.06฿35.17
79.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27SEK 22.34
$0.72฿23.85
215.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86SEK 8.48
$0.53฿17.49
62.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.35SEK 72.2
$4.23฿141
73.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21SEK 100
$18.29฿608
-44.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.68
$1.63฿54.2
22.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SEK 23.48
$2.90฿96.5
-17.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 33.33
$0.88฿29.20
285.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.5SEK 800
$53.8฿1,788
51.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.23SEK 61.2
$1.17฿38.99
432.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.74
$0.58฿19.22
175.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.6SEK 575
$2.39฿79.3
2351.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.74
$1.45฿48.22
31.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KSEK 339.4K
$21.0K฿698.6K
64.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 335.2K
$26.4K฿878.6K
29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179SEK 1,763
$63.7฿2,116
181.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.38SEK 220
$12.89฿429
73.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.61SEK 399
$20.52฿682
97.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.46SEK 388
$39.02฿1,297
1.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.80SEK 253
$3.92฿130
558.16%
Cinema Ticket
$16.85SEK 166
$6.58฿219
156.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165SEK 1,621
$784฿26.1K
-78.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,290SEK 52.0K
$14.7K฿487.9K
-63.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 1,020
$55.1฿1,833
88.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5SEK 545
$24.74฿823
124.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9SEK 952
$94.1฿3,130
2.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202SEK 1,984
$74.0฿2,459
173.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822SEK 8,079
$490฿16.3K
67.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SEK 6,121
$288฿9,582
116.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,422SEK 14.0K
$891฿29.6K
59.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073SEK 10.5K
$521฿17.3K
105.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,130SEK 40.6K
$1,974฿65.6K
109.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,928SEK 28.8K
$1,444฿48.0K
102.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
5.57
-42.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Botkyrka: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $822 in Botkyrka and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Botkyrka vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 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
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 106% 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 $2,883 in Botkyrka and $1,398 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: $822 in Botkyrka versus $490 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 56% 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 $20.00 versus $67.0 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 $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,922 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 $932 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 106% less than in Botkyrka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.