🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,848 in Akersberga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $2,861 in Akersberga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $3,873 in Akersberga.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 54% less than in Akersberga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Akersberga is 39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$15.65SEK 149
-86.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$68.8SEK 654
-72.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$10.73SEK 102
-26.75%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$4.53SEK 43.01
-55.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$2.82SEK 26.79
-71.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$2.51SEK 23.80
-86.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$8.52SEK 80.9
-74.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$7.49SEK 71.1
-51.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.74SEK 16.57
-0.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$3.38SEK 32.07
-53.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$3.91SEK 37.17
-69.31%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$4.04SEK 38.39
-51.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$12.64SEK 120
28.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$12.00SEK 114
-74.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$15.77SEK 150
-31.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$3.47SEK 32.94
-20.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$2.57SEK 24.46
-54.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$3.37SEK 32.02
-49.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$4.42SEK 41.95
-64.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$1.50SEK 14.24
-7.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$1.82SEK 17.29
-36.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$2.63SEK 24.95
-74.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$1.60SEK 15.21
-67.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$7.43SEK 70.6
-37.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$10.26SEK 97.4
73.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.70SEK 16.16
5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.90SEK 18.03
75.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$3.47SEK 32.93
-73.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$73.3SEK 697
-74.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$6.36SEK 60.4
-77.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$1.18SEK 11.23
13.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$20.80SEK 198
-61.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.99SEK 18.87
-38.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$32.4KSEK 307.6K
-33.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$34.1KSEK 324.2K
-36.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$115SEK 1,089
-37.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$28.12SEK 267
-50.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$36.25SEK 344
-50.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$40.74SEK 387
0.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$25.71SEK 244
-73.24%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$15.67SEK 149
-63.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$144SEK 1,367
114.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$4,135SEK 39.3K
254.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$96.3SEK 915
-42.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$44.34SEK 421
-41.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$116SEK 1,098
-26.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$154SEK 1,462
-53.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$825SEK 7,838
-48.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$653SEK 6,200
-62.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$1,383SEK 13.1K
-42.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$1,080SEK 10.3K
-53.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$4,326SEK 41.1K
-55.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$2,767SEK 26.3K
-47.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$3,332SEK 31.7K
-82.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Akersberga: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $825 in Akersberga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akersberga pays 460% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $69.0 in Akersberga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $367 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
Chiang Mai vs Akersberga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Akersberga?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Akersberga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or in Akersberga?
On paper, salaries run 460% lower in Akersberga. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Akersberga?
Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $825 in Akersberga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Akersberga?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,848 in Akersberga – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Akersberga?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 293% less than in Akersberga. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Akersberga?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,848 in Akersberga, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Akersberga. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Akersberga?
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 Chiang Mai compared to Akersberga?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Akersberga 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 117% less than in Akersberga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared