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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,058 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,193 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,328 in Gothenburg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 58% cheaper than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Gothenburg is 54% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$13.74 SEK 129

-85.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$93.9 SEK 880

-80.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.34 SEK 97.0

-24.37%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.73 SEK 44.40

-58.77%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.97 SEK 27.84

-71.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.53 SEK 23.76

-86.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$7.26 SEK 68.1

-70.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.72 SEK 72.4

-51.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.68 SEK 15.75

1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.85 SEK 26.75

-42.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.32 SEK 31.11

-65.66%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.65 SEK 43.63

-58.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.80 SEK 111

37.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.61 SEK 118

-75.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.02 SEK 178

-42.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.10 SEK 29.07

-11.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.74 SEK 25.67

-55.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.91 SEK 27.25

-44.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.18 SEK 39.16

-61.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.66 SEK 15.58

-15.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.85 SEK 17.34

-36.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.27 SEK 21.33

-70.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.55 SEK 14.53

-65.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.82 SEK 73.3

-40.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$15.32 SEK 144

21.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.26 SEK 21.19

-20.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.61 SEK 24.45

23.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$3.80 SEK 35.63

-76.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$88.6 SEK 831

-78.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$10.11 SEK 94.8

-86.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.66 SEK 15.56

-22.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$61.7 SEK 579

-87.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.89 SEK 17.73

-32.80%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.0K SEK 300.4K

-33.57%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.5K SEK 323.3K

-35.56%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$138 SEK 1,299

-50.12%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$24.95 SEK 234

-43.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$38.25 SEK 359

-52.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$41.78 SEK 392

-1.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.26 SEK 237

-72.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$17.98 SEK 169

-67.07%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$175 SEK 1,646

70.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,215 SEK 39.5K

254.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$87.6 SEK 822

-37.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$40.28 SEK 378

-33.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$96.9 SEK 909

-12.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$156 SEK 1,466

-54.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,125 SEK 10.6K

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$873 SEK 8,190

-72.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,917 SEK 18.0K

-58.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,434 SEK 13.4K

-64.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$6,696 SEK 62.8K

-70.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,764 SEK 35.3K

-60.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,953 SEK 37.1K

-84.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

15.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,125 in Gothenburg. 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 540% higher in Gothenburg, 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 $94.0 in Gothenburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $381 – 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 Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gothenburg costs about 138% 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 $3,087 in Gothenburg. 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 $175 in Gothenburg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg at $2,058. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gothenburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,058 in Gothenburg. 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, Gothenburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.