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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,807 in Fagersta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,789 in Fagersta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,772 in Fagersta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Fagersta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$13.35 SEK 125

-85.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$67.7 SEK 636

-72.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.70 SEK 101

-26.92%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.59 SEK 43.13

-57.52%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.74 SEK 25.76

-68.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.38 SEK 22.37

-85.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.46 SEK 70.1

-71.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.44 SEK 69.9

-49.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.85 SEK 17.38

-7.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$3.15 SEK 29.61

-48.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$4.10 SEK 38.50

-72.20%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.88 SEK 36.44

-50.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.87 SEK 130

16.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.93 SEK 112

-73.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$16.00 SEK 150

-31.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.50 SEK 32.88

-21.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.67 SEK 25.11

-54.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.56 SEK 14.69

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$5.64 SEK 53.0

-71.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.52 SEK 14.25

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.05 SEK 19.24

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.78 SEK 26.14

-76.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.75 SEK 16.44

-69.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.40 SEK 69.5

-36.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$10.70 SEK 101

74.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.78 SEK 16.74

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.96 SEK 18.44

64.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.30 SEK 30.95

-72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$74.3 SEK 698

-74.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$5.68 SEK 53.4

-75.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.64 SEK 15.44

-21.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$21.12 SEK 198

-62.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.95 SEK 18.28

-34.87%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.1K SEK 302.0K

-33.81%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.6K SEK 325.0K

-35.81%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$89.1 SEK 837

-22.51%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.38 SEK 267

-50.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$37.13 SEK 349

-51.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$39.91 SEK 375

2.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.79 SEK 242

-73.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$16.12 SEK 151

-63.28%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$144 SEK 1,349

108.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$737 SEK 6,919

1929.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$106 SEK 996

-48.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$44.44 SEK 417

-39.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$114 SEK 1,071

-25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$159 SEK 1,490

-55.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$854 SEK 8,022

-49.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$654 SEK 6,143

-63.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,403 SEK 13.2K

-42.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,070 SEK 10.1K

-51.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,453 SEK 41.8K

-55.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,150 SEK 29.6K

-53.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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 Fagersta: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $854 in Fagersta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $68.0 in Fagersta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $374 – 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 Fagersta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fagersta costs about 109% 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 $2,710 in Fagersta. 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 $144 in Fagersta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Fagersta, 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 Fagersta at $1,807. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fagersta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,807 in Fagersta. 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, Fagersta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.