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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,996 in Gavle, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,963 in Gavle, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,931 in Gavle, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 57% cheaper than Gavle, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Gavle is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$12.89 SEK 121

-84.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$96.5 SEK 906

-80.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.55 SEK 99.1

-25.88%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$5.20 SEK 48.83

-62.50%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.06 SEK 19.37

-58.74%

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

$8.59 SEK 80.7

-75.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.38 SEK 78.7

-55.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.72 SEK 16.18

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.57 SEK 24.14

-36.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.90 SEK 36.63

-70.77%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$4.18 SEK 39.29

-53.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.25 SEK 86.9

75.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$10.31 SEK 96.9

-69.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.00 SEK 141

-27.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.33 SEK 31.28

-17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.86 SEK 26.90

-57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.48 SEK 32.64

-53.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$4.46 SEK 41.86

-64.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.88 SEK 17.68

-25.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.82 SEK 17.09

-35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.60 SEK 24.45

-74.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.56 SEK 14.70

-66.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.80 SEK 73.3

-39.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$11.95 SEK 112

56.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.64 SEK 15.40

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.85 SEK 17.34

74.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$4.01 SEK 37.69

-77.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$58.6 SEK 550

-67.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$4.69 SEK 44.04

-69.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.34 SEK 12.56

-3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$48.80 SEK 458

-83.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.82 SEK 17.09

-30.22%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$29.5K SEK 276.8K

-27.79%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$33.6K SEK 316.0K

-33.98%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$85.3 SEK 801

-18.99%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.10 SEK 264

-49.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$41.37 SEK 389

-56.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$50.1 SEK 470

-17.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.80 SEK 148

-55.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.89 SEK 130

-57.38%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$160 SEK 1,507

86.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$6,622 SEK 62.2K

125.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$95.4 SEK 896

-42.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$48.67 SEK 457

-45.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$83.0 SEK 780

2.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$157 SEK 1,473

-54.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$835 SEK 7,844

-48.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$897 SEK 8,427

-73.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,737 SEK 16.3K

-53.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,272 SEK 12.0K

-59.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,020 SEK 19.0K

-2.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,431 SEK 13.4K

3.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,285 SEK 30.9K

-81.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

21.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gavle: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $835 in Gavle. 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 432% higher in Gavle, 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 $96.0 in Gavle. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $344 – 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 Gavle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gavle costs about 130% 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 $2,994 in Gavle. 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 $160 in Gavle. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Gavle, 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 Gavle at $1,996. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gavle it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,996 in Gavle. 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, Gavle makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.