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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,722 in Eskilstuna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,669 in Eskilstuna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,615 in Eskilstuna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Eskilstuna is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$13.22 SEK 124

-85.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$69.8 SEK 656

-73.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.49 SEK 98.6

-25.45%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.67 SEK 43.84

-58.24%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.71 SEK 25.42

-68.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.43 SEK 22.82

-85.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.50 SEK 70.5

-71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.54 SEK 70.8

-50.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.50 SEK 14.05

14.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$3.20 SEK 30.05

-49.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.58 SEK 33.64

-68.16%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.85 SEK 36.14

-49.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.28 SEK 134

13.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.85 SEK 111

-73.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.41 SEK 126

-18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.43 SEK 32.26

-19.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.71 SEK 25.46

-55.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.59 SEK 24.35

-37.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.92 SEK 36.79

-59.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.49 SEK 13.97

-6.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.13 SEK 20.03

-45.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.65 SEK 24.86

-75.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.74 SEK 16.37

-69.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.54 SEK 70.8

-37.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$8.76 SEK 82.3

113.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.43 SEK 22.86

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.98 SEK 18.64

63.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.22 SEK 30.29

-72.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$70.1 SEK 658

-72.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$6.48 SEK 60.9

-78.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.20 SEK 11.25

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$63.0 SEK 592

-87.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.99 SEK 18.67

-36.18%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.5K SEK 305.4K

-34.56%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.4K SEK 322.9K

-35.39%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$91.0 SEK 854

-24.07%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$27.96 SEK 263

-49.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$36.08 SEK 339

-50.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$25.97 SEK 244

58.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.38 SEK 238

-72.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$11.44 SEK 107

-48.25%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$125 SEK 1,173

139.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$735 SEK 6,903

1934.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$103 SEK 968

-46.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$31.39 SEK 295

-14.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$93.5 SEK 879

-9.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$156 SEK 1,469

-54.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$735 SEK 6,908

-41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$631 SEK 5,931

-62.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,215 SEK 11.4K

-34.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,056 SEK 9,917

-51.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,174 SEK 29.8K

-37.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,704 SEK 25.4K

-45.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$4,312 SEK 40.5K

-85.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Eskilstuna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $735 in Eskilstuna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 598% higher in Eskilstuna, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in Eskilstuna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $356 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Eskilstuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eskilstuna costs about 99% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,584 in Eskilstuna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $125 in Eskilstuna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Eskilstuna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Eskilstuna at $1,722. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eskilstuna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,722 in Eskilstuna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Eskilstuna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.