🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,795 in Akersberga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $2,846 in Akersberga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $3,896 in Akersberga.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 52% less than in Akersberga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Akersberga is 34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$15.71SEK 147
-87.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$68.7SEK 644
-72.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$10.52SEK 98.7
-26.33%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$4.69SEK 44.01
-59.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$2.74SEK 25.70
-71.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$2.51SEK 23.55
-85.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$8.26SEK 77.5
-73.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$7.46SEK 70.0
-50.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.72SEK 16.09
-4.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$3.48SEK 32.63
-53.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$4.02SEK 37.73
-70.40%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$4.03SEK 37.80
-50.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$13.00SEK 122
22.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$11.66SEK 109
-74.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$15.85SEK 149
-31.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.45SEK 32.34
-20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.72SEK 25.47
-56.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$3.36SEK 31.53
-51.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$4.46SEK 41.83
-65.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$1.52SEK 14.23
-9.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$1.82SEK 17.04
-34.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$2.55SEK 23.96
-72.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$1.63SEK 15.32
-65.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$7.52SEK 70.6
-39.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$10.72SEK 101
54.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.77SEK 16.61
3.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$1.94SEK 18.20
64.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$3.47SEK 32.52
-74.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$74.9SEK 703
-75.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$6.05SEK 56.7
-77.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$1.24SEK 11.65
8.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$21.05SEK 197
-62.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$2.01SEK 18.90
-38.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$33.0KSEK 309.7K
-34.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$34.4KSEK 322.3K
-34.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$88.3SEK 828
-20.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$28.90SEK 271
-52.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$36.84SEK 346
-52.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$41.31SEK 388
0.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$25.59SEK 240
-72.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$15.62SEK 147
-63.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$142SEK 1,333
116.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$4,116SEK 38.6K
254.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$96.4SEK 905
-42.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$42.95SEK 403
-38.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$117SEK 1,093
-26.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$156SEK 1,463
-53.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$843SEK 7,908
-49.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$662SEK 6,211
-63.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$1,414SEK 13.3K
-42.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$1,089SEK 10.2K
-53.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$4,405SEK 41.3K
-54.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$2,966SEK 27.8K
-49.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Akersberga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$3,494SEK 32.8K
-82.29%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Akersberga: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $843 in Akersberga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akersberga pays 465% 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 $241 vs $370 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 107% 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 465% 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: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $843 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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,795 in Akersberga – a 107% 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 300% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,795 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 $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 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 107% 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