Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Höllviken

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,732 in Höllviken, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Höllviken, Sweden
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Höllviken
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,732
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Höllviken actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,732 in Höllviken, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Höllviken $1,732

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,690 in Höllviken, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Höllviken $2,690

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,647 in Höllviken, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Höllviken $3,647

Chiang Mai is about 46% cheaper than Höllviken, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Höllviken is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$15.26 SEK 150
-85.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$69.9 SEK 686
-72.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$11.93 SEK 117
-53.48%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.49 SEK 44.02
-62.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$2.86 SEK 28.05
-77.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.65 SEK 26.04
-88.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$7.45 SEK 73.1
-68.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$6.43 SEK 63.1
-43.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.49 SEK 14.58
30.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.46
$2.84 SEK 27.87
-49.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.03
$3.05 SEK 29.93
-56.39%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.14 SEK 40.62
-44.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$11.70 SEK 115
40.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$10.88 SEK 107
-74.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$15.15 SEK 149
-38.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.97 SEK 29.16
-20.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.79
$2.61 SEK 25.61
-62.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$3.08 SEK 30.21
-48.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.41 SEK 43.27
-65.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.11
$1.64 SEK 16.13
-21.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.18
$1.55 SEK 15.23
-29.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.86 SEK 18.26
-61.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$1.23 SEK 12.11
-60.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$8.05 SEK 79.0
-48.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$8.92 SEK 87.5
96.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.96 SEK 19.27
-17.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$2.30 SEK 22.59
20.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.30
$3.26 SEK 32.00
-73.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$77.8 SEK 764
-30.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.04
$6.24 SEK 61.2
-81.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.66 SEK 16.32
-68.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$50.2 SEK 493
-95.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.88
$1.77 SEK 17.33
-18.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.5K
$33.7K SEK 330.8K
-37.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.0K
$33.6K SEK 329.7K
-19.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$143 SEK 1,402
-56.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$25.50 SEK 250
-52.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$32.85 SEK 322
-38.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$37.19 SEK 365
0.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$26.25 SEK 258
-85.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$14.93 SEK 147
-56.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$170 SEK 1,672
332.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.2K
$5,043 SEK 49.5K
192.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$81.2 SEK 797
-34.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$43.98 SEK 432
-43.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$91.1 SEK 894
0.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,427
$109 SEK 1,067
-33.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$814 SEK 7,987
-40.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$594 SEK 5,832
-48.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,352 SEK 13.3K
-25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,030 SEK 10.1K
-38.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$3,989 SEK 39.1K
-40.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,800 SEK 27.5K
-43.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.05
82.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Höllviken: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Höllviken
$594 92.4% $285
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Höllviken
$334 42.7% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Höllviken
$146 34.6% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Höllviken
$201 113% $107
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Höllviken
$284 266% $206
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Höllviken
$105 71.8% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Höllviken
$67 33.4% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $814 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $70 in Höllviken. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $334 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇪 Höllviken
🕒 Local time
06:17 6:17 AM
00:17 12:17 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
10,607
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Höllviken 8,050 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Höllviken

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 Höllviken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Höllviken?
Höllviken costs about 85% 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 Höllviken?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,599 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $814 in Höllviken.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Höllviken?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $170 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 43% more in Höllviken, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Höllviken?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,732 in Höllviken. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Höllviken?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $1,732 in Höllviken. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Höllviken?
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 46% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?