Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Hagfors

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,828 in Hagfors, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Hagfors, Sweden
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Hagfors
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,828
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Hagfors

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Hagfors actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,828 in Hagfors, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Hagfors $1,828

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,870 in Hagfors, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Hagfors $2,870

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,912 in Hagfors, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Hagfors $3,912

Chiang Mai is about 49% cheaper than Hagfors, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Hagfors is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$14.94 SEK 147
-85.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$79.5 SEK 780
-76.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$10.04 SEK 98.6
-44.72%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$5.00 SEK 49.09
-66.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$3.00 SEK 29.41
-78.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.44 SEK 23.92
-87.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$8.00 SEK 78.5
-70.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$9.99 SEK 98.1
-63.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.83 SEK 17.93
6.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$2.94 SEK 28.91
-51.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$4.75 SEK 46.66
-72.00%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.85 SEK 47.58
-52.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$10.19 SEK 100
61.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$14.96 SEK 147
-81.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$18.16 SEK 178
-48.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$4.20 SEK 41.29
-44.05%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.68 SEK 26.33
-63.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$3.67 SEK 36.00
-56.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$5.38 SEK 52.9
-72.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.92 SEK 18.89
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.69 SEK 16.58
-34.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.67 SEK 26.22
-73.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$1.34 SEK 13.12
-63.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$7.83 SEK 76.9
-47.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$9.89 SEK 97.1
77.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.52 SEK 24.70
-36.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.56 SEK 25.09
8.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$3.25 SEK 31.88
-73.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$78.1 SEK 767
-30.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$5.35 SEK 52.6
-78.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.28 SEK 12.61
-58.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$62.2 SEK 611
-96.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.74 SEK 17.06
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$33.3K SEK 326.6K
-36.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$33.9K SEK 332.4K
-20.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$113 SEK 1,112
-45.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$16.08 SEK 158
-24.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$47.77 SEK 469
-57.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$38.19 SEK 375
-2.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$25.95 SEK 255
-85.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$9.98 SEK 98.0
-34.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$128 SEK 1,261
473.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$5,108 SEK 50.2K
189.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$104 SEK 1,020
-48.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$48.39 SEK 475
-49.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$97.1 SEK 953
-5.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$200 SEK 1,965
-64.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$802 SEK 7,876
-39.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$598 SEK 5,874
-48.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,371 SEK 13.5K
-26.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,017 SEK 9,991
-37.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$4,028 SEK 39.5K
-41.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,769 SEK 27.2K
-42.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hagfors
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.09
36.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hagfors: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Hagfors
$598 93.6% $289
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Hagfors
$398 69.8% $164
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Hagfors
$202 86.2% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Hagfors
$177 87.5% $83
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Hagfors
$291 276% $214
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Hagfors
$103 67.6% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Hagfors
$58 15.7% $7.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $802 in Hagfors. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $79 in Hagfors. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $398 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇪 Hagfors
🕒 Local time
10:25 10:25 AM
04:25 4:25 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
11,581
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Hagfors 7,950 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Hagfors

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hagfors: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hagfors?
Hagfors costs about 95% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Hagfors?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,742 in Hagfors. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hagfors?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $802 in Hagfors.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Hagfors?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $128 in Hagfors. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Hagfors?
Groceries cost about 70% more in Hagfors, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Hagfors?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,828 in Hagfors. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Hagfors?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,828 in Hagfors. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hagfors?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 49% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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