🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,820 in Akersberga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $2,804 in Akersberga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $3,788 in Akersberga.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 53% less than in Akersberga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Akersberga is 36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$15.64SEK 145
-87.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$67.5SEK 628
-72.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$10.40SEK 96.7
-23.85%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$4.64SEK 43.16
-58.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$2.84SEK 26.43
-70.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$2.46SEK 22.91
-85.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$8.21SEK 76.3
-73.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$7.43SEK 69.1
-48.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.80SEK 16.74
-8.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$3.48SEK 32.38
-53.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$3.93SEK 36.52
-69.97%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$3.98SEK 36.98
-49.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$12.86SEK 120
23.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$11.90SEK 111
-74.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$15.63SEK 145
-31.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$3.59SEK 33.36
-27.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$2.62SEK 24.36
-53.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$3.37SEK 31.36
-49.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$4.47SEK 41.56
-64.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.52SEK 14.12
-13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$1.80SEK 16.72
-35.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$2.51SEK 23.35
-73.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$1.56SEK 14.47
-64.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$7.51SEK 69.9
-39.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$13.03SEK 121
39.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.71SEK 15.93
7.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.90SEK 17.66
70.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$3.36SEK 31.23
-73.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$74.3SEK 691
-73.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$6.38SEK 59.3
-78.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$1.24SEK 11.51
8.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$21.15SEK 197
-60.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.93SEK 17.94
-34.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$33.0KSEK 307.2K
-35.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$33.8KSEK 314.2K
-33.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$89.3SEK 830
-21.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$28.57SEK 266
-51.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$36.39SEK 338
-51.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$39.84SEK 371
4.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$25.57SEK 238
-74.19%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$15.99SEK 149
-63.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$143SEK 1,331
113.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,207SEK 39.1K
252.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$97.5SEK 907
-44.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$43.68SEK 406
-40.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$116SEK 1,083
-27.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$158SEK 1,470
-56.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$842SEK 7,828
-49.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$647SEK 6,012
-63.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$1,393SEK 13.0K
-40.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$1,075SEK 9,998
-52.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$3,487SEK 32.4K
-81.78%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Akersberga: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $842 in Akersberga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akersberga pays 449% 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 $67.0 in Akersberga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $374 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 114% 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 Akersberga?
On paper, Akersberga earns 449% less. 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 vs Akersberga?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $842 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 $1,820 in Akersberga – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai vs Akersberga?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 283% 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 Akersberga?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,820 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 114% 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