Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akersberga Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akersberga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,919 in Akersberga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $2,960 in Akersberga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $4,002 in Akersberga.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 51% less than in Akersberga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 32% below, Akersberga is 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$18.78 SEK 185
-88.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$67.5 SEK 665
-70.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$10.50 SEK 103
-46.00%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$4.43 SEK 43.67
-59.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$2.67 SEK 26.34
-71.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$2.20 SEK 21.71
-84.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$8.18 SEK 80.6
-72.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$7.46 SEK 73.5
-49.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.83 SEK 18.04
12.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$3.22 SEK 31.73
-53.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$4.12 SEK 40.57
-66.02%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$5.24 SEK 51.6
-56.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$13.33 SEK 131
21.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$13.82 SEK 136
-79.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$18.03 SEK 178
-47.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$3.25 SEK 31.98
-17.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$2.82 SEK 27.78
-61.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$3.18 SEK 31.31
-49.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$4.62 SEK 45.53
-68.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$1.48 SEK 14.57
-13.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$1.81 SEK 17.81
-41.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$2.36 SEK 23.26
-69.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$1.91 SEK 18.83
-72.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$7.31 SEK 72.0
-42.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$10.22 SEK 101
78.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.04 SEK 20.15
-20.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.40 SEK 23.66
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$3.54 SEK 34.91
-75.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$81.8 SEK 806
-34.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$6.08 SEK 59.9
-80.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$1.54 SEK 15.22
-62.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$59.6 SEK 587
-95.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$1.83 SEK 18.03
-20.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$35.0K SEK 345.4K
-40.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$33.4K SEK 329.5K
-20.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$184 SEK 1,814
-65.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$22.62 SEK 223
-43.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$41.13 SEK 405
-50.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$39.64 SEK 391
-1.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$26.28 SEK 259
-85.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$16.45 SEK 162
-60.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$165 SEK 1,628
374.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$5,107 SEK 50.3K
187.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$101 SEK 993
-45.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$54.5 SEK 537
-54.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$99.4 SEK 979
-5.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$201 SEK 1,977
-63.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$846 SEK 8,336
-42.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$627 SEK 6,180
-54.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$1,403 SEK 13.8K
-36.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$1,072 SEK 10.6K
-51.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$4,162 SEK 41.0K
-52.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
$2,973 SEK 29.3K
-51.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
$3,441 SEK 33.9K
-82.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.2
74.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Akersberga: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $846 in Akersberga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akersberga pays 472% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $67.0 in Akersberga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $396 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 106% 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 472% 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: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $846 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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,919 in Akersberga – a 106% 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 52% 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 $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,919 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 $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 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 106% less than in Akersberga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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