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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Höllviken, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,793 in Höllviken, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,804 in Höllviken, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 48% cheaper than Höllviken, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Höllviken is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$15.38 SEK 152
-86.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$74.3 SEK 732
-73.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$12.27 SEK 121
-53.79%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$4.71 SEK 46.37
-61.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$3.01 SEK 29.62
-74.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$2.73 SEK 26.85
-87.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$7.97 SEK 78.6
-72.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$6.49 SEK 63.9
-41.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.52 SEK 15.02
34.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.86 SEK 28.22
-47.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$3.18 SEK 31.33
-55.97%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$4.34 SEK 42.75
-47.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$11.88 SEK 117
36.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$11.60 SEK 114
-75.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$15.29 SEK 151
-38.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$2.81 SEK 27.71
-4.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$2.69 SEK 26.51
-59.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$3.06 SEK 30.11
-47.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$4.15 SEK 40.85
-64.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$1.45 SEK 14.32
-11.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$1.53 SEK 15.12
-30.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$1.88 SEK 18.57
-61.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$1.31 SEK 12.93
-59.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$8.20 SEK 80.8
-48.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$9.21 SEK 90.8
98.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.13 SEK 20.96
-23.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.44 SEK 24.04
18.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$3.42 SEK 33.68
-74.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$79.7 SEK 786
-32.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$6.61 SEK 65.2
-82.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$1.77 SEK 17.42
-67.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$51.8 SEK 511
-95.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$1.78 SEK 17.57
-18.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$34.5K SEK 340.3K
-39.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$34.4K SEK 339.4K
-23.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$147 SEK 1,444
-56.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$27.20 SEK 268
-52.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$35.00 SEK 345
-41.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$39.72 SEK 391
-1.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$26.38 SEK 260
-85.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$15.88 SEK 156
-58.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$180 SEK 1,776
335.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$5,130 SEK 50.6K
186.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$83.1 SEK 819
-33.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$44.42 SEK 438
-44.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$93.2 SEK 919
0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$112 SEK 1,101
-33.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$831 SEK 8,190
-41.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$615 SEK 6,055
-53.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$1,373 SEK 13.5K
-35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$1,059 SEK 10.4K
-50.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$4,166 SEK 41.1K
-52.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
$2,910 SEK 28.7K
-50.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.02
84.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Höllviken: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $831 in Höllviken. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $74.0 in Höllviken. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $341 – 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 Höllviken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Höllviken?
Höllviken costs about 91% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Höllviken?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,673 in Höllviken. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Höllviken?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Höllviken?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $180 in Höllviken. 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 Höllviken?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Höllviken, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Höllviken?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Höllviken at $1,782. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Höllviken it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Höllviken?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,782 in Höllviken. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Höllviken?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Höllviken?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Höllviken makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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