🙂A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,742 in Höllviken, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,737 in Höllviken, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,732 in Höllviken, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than Höllviken, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% 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
$1.96฿65.8
$13.88SEK 134
-85.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$74.2SEK 718
-75.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$10.34SEK 100
-27.66%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$4.58SEK 44.31
-55.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$2.80SEK 27.14
-69.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$2.11SEK 20.46
-82.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$7.46SEK 72.2
-71.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$6.42SEK 62.2
-44.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$1.51SEK 14.62
9.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$2.50SEK 24.20
-37.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$2.57SEK 24.87
-53.70%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$4.33SEK 41.94
-55.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$10.25SEK 99.2
57.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$11.92SEK 115
-74.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$16.10SEK 156
-32.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$2.80SEK 27.15
-3.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$2.82SEK 27.26
-58.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$3.25SEK 31.50
-48.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$3.80SEK 36.83
-57.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$1.50SEK 14.53
-8.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$1.47SEK 14.27
-18.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$2.05SEK 19.87
-67.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$1.54SEK 14.94
-63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$7.58SEK 73.4
-38.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$9.19SEK 89.0
91.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$2.46SEK 23.78
-24.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.62SEK 25.40
25.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$3.44SEK 33.32
-74.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$72.7SEK 704
-73.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$6.41SEK 62.1
-78.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$1.83SEK 17.68
-26.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$52.2SEK 506
-84.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.97SEK 19.10
-38.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$32.0KSEK 309.8K
-33.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$33.5KSEK 324.0K
-32.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$118SEK 1,139
-39.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$28.86SEK 279
-51.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$36.67SEK 355
-52.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$40.15SEK 389
4.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$24.94SEK 241
-72.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$17.59SEK 170
-66.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$144SEK 1,398
113.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$4,220SEK 40.9K
252.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$83.2SEK 806
-33.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$42.90SEK 415
-39.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$87.0SEK 842
-4.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$114SEK 1,108
-38.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$847SEK 8,201
-48.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$665SEK 6,434
-64.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$1,367SEK 13.2K
-39.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$1,075SEK 10.4K
-52.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$4,671SEK 45.2K
-59.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$2,439SEK 23.6K
-39.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Höllviken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.66
7.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Höllviken: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $847 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $74.0 in Höllviken. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $339 – 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 102% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,613 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $144 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 39% 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 $861, than in Höllviken at $1,742. 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 $861 versus $1,742 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared