😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,809 in Botkyrka versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,776 in Botkyrka versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,743 in Botkyrka versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Botkyrka is roughly 108% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Botkyrka is 35% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14SEK 123
$1.98฿64.3
563.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8SEK 655
$18.80฿612
271.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36SEK 97.2
$7.75฿252
33.68%
Cappuccino
$4.59SEK 43.08
$1.92฿62.5
139.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72SEK 25.47
$0.79฿25.79
244.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEK 22.56
$0.36฿11.62
569.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 67.4
$2.21฿72.1
224.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25SEK 68.0
$3.66฿119
98.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 16.37
$1.65฿53.8
6.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11SEK 29.16
$1.63฿53.2
90.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.05SEK 37.98
$1.19฿38.86
240.34%
Eggs
$4.50SEK 42.20
$2.00฿65.1
125.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.93SEK 121
$15.98฿520
-19.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.84SEK 111
$3.03฿98.5
290.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.68SEK 147
$10.86฿354
44.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45SEK 32.36
$2.76฿90.0
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SEK 24.56
$1.18฿38.42
122.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44SEK 22.91
$1.64฿53.5
48.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61SEK 43.21
$1.52฿49.51
203.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.32
$1.38฿45.10
26.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07SEK 19.42
$1.19฿38.84
73.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54SEK 23.81
$0.70฿22.86
262.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.50
$0.56฿18.13
176.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30SEK 68.5
$4.58฿149
59.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.75SEK 101
$16.56฿539
-35.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SEK 16.22
$1.83฿59.5
-5.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.26
$3.20฿104
-39.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33SEK 31.19
$0.88฿28.56
278.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.9SEK 702
$18.72฿610
299.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.32SEK 59.3
$1.36฿44.16
364.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20SEK 11.25
$1.34฿43.65
-10.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.28SEK 200
$7.84฿256
171.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.23
$1.23฿39.92
57.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KSEK 301.4K
$21.6K฿704.3K
48.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KSEK 324.9K
$22.5K฿734.3K
53.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.7SEK 841
$70.5฿2,298
27.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.38SEK 266
$13.68฿445
107.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.93SEK 346
$17.45฿568
111.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.16SEK 377
$41.33฿1,346
-2.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.61SEK 240
$6.96฿227
267.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.88SEK 149
$5.77฿188
175.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145SEK 1,357
$307฿10.0K
-52.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,209SEK 39.5K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-71.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.9SEK 918
$55.8฿1,817
75.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.26SEK 406
$26.21฿854
65.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,094
$85.8฿2,793
36.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,431
$72.2฿2,353
111.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 7,896
$430฿14.0K
95.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$656SEK 6,154
$239฿7,774
174.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,420SEK 13.3K
$817฿26.6K
73.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,102SEK 10.3K
$511฿16.6K
115.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,076SEK 38.2K
$1,983฿64.6K
105.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,731SEK 25.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
84.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Botkyrka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Botkyrka and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Botkyrka vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 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 108% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $2,714 in Botkyrka and $1,303 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 vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $842 in Botkyrka versus $430 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 Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Botkyrka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Botkyrka vs Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $70.0 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 Chiang Mai?
At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,809 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 $869 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 108% less than in Botkyrka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.