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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,792 in Helsingborg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,779 in Helsingborg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,765 in Helsingborg, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Helsingborg is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$15.52 SEK 147

-87.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$73.1 SEK 692

-74.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.57 SEK 100.0

-26.02%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$4.77 SEK 45.08

-59.12%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$2.91 SEK 27.51

-70.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$2.74 SEK 25.88

-87.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$7.27 SEK 68.8

-70.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.49 SEK 61.4

-42.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.45 SEK 13.70

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$2.46 SEK 23.27

-33.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$2.72 SEK 25.69

-58.09%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$4.80 SEK 45.42

-59.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$10.30 SEK 97.5

57.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.84 SEK 112

-73.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$16.14 SEK 153

-32.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$2.72 SEK 25.71

1.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$2.78 SEK 26.33

-56.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$3.27 SEK 30.91

-50.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$3.65 SEK 34.50

-56.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$1.48 SEK 14.00

-5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$1.42 SEK 13.43

-17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$1.97 SEK 18.66

-66.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$1.72 SEK 16.23

-69.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$7.15 SEK 67.6

-34.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$9.82 SEK 92.9

90.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$2.45 SEK 23.21

-26.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.65 SEK 15.61

95.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$3.37 SEK 31.89

-73.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$66.9 SEK 633

-71.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$3.14 SEK 29.73

-55.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$1.65 SEK 15.64

-21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$20.12 SEK 190

-61.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$1.93 SEK 18.25

-34.20%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$32.1K SEK 303.8K

-33.75%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$34.8K SEK 329.0K

-36.13%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$120 SEK 1,139

-42.62%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$28.86 SEK 273

-51.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$36.37 SEK 344

-50.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$39.47 SEK 373

4.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$21.99 SEK 208

-68.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$21.00 SEK 199

-71.81%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$147 SEK 1,389

103.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$4,137 SEK 39.1K

261.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$83.4 SEK 789

-34.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$44.13 SEK 418

-39.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$84.6 SEK 801

0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$112 SEK 1,057

-36.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$818 SEK 7,739

-47.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$643 SEK 6,086

-63.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$1,389 SEK 13.1K

-42.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,138 SEK 10.8K

-54.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$3,336 SEK 31.6K

-40.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$2,402 SEK 22.7K

-38.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,072 SEK 29.1K

-79.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.66

7.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Helsingborg: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $818 in Helsingborg. 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 397% higher in Helsingborg, 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 $73.0 in Helsingborg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $340 – 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 Helsingborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Helsingborg costs about 107% 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 $2,688 in Helsingborg. 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 $147 in Helsingborg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Helsingborg, 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 Helsingborg at $1,792. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Helsingborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,792 in Helsingborg. 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, Helsingborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.