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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,902 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $2,272 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,641 in Boras.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 32% below, Boras is 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$13.12 SEK 129

-84.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$92.7 SEK 913

-78.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.12 SEK 99.8

-43.97%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$4.27 SEK 42.09

-57.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.65

$2.18 SEK 21.53

-64.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$2.03 SEK 20.03

-82.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$7.34 SEK 72.4

-69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$7.34 SEK 72.3

-48.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.68 SEK 16.52

22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.80 SEK 27.63

-46.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$3.13 SEK 30.81

-55.27%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$4.64 SEK 45.72

-51.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$12.37 SEK 122

30.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$11.63 SEK 115

-75.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$16.80 SEK 166

-43.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.23 SEK 31.83

-17.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.84 SEK 28.00

-61.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.91 SEK 28.71

-44.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.55 SEK 34.99

-58.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.55 SEK 15.28

-17.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.41 SEK 13.91

-24.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.29 SEK 22.55

-68.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.37 SEK 13.49

-61.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.86 SEK 67.6

-38.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$8.61 SEK 84.8

112.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.74 SEK 17.14

-6.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.66 SEK 16.34

74.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$3.74 SEK 36.87

-76.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$78.3 SEK 771

-31.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$5.09 SEK 50.1

-77.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.15 SEK 11.34

-49.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$42.10 SEK 415

-94.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.84 SEK 18.16

-21.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$25.3K SEK 249.2K

-16.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$15.1K SEK 149.0K

74.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,125

$62.1 SEK 612

2.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿430

$31.06 SEK 306

-58.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$41.56 SEK 410

-50.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$35.29 SEK 348

10.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$25.95 SEK 256

-84.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$15.39 SEK 152

-57.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

$162 SEK 1,592

385.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$50.8 SEK 501

8.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$50.8 SEK 500

-51.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$81.8 SEK 806

15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$104 SEK 1,026

-28.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$887 SEK 8,737

-67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$2,478 SEK 24.4K

-75.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.8

16.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Boras: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Boras pays 312% 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 $93.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $346 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 Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 312% lower in Boras. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,902 in Boras – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 46% less than in Boras. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,902 in Boras, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Boras. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boras, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Boras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.