๐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,770 in Hรถllviken, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,756 in Hรถllviken, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,743 in Hรถllviken, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than Hรถllviken, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Hรถllviken is 32% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94เธฟ63.5
$13.86SEKย 129
-86.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64เธฟ609
$73.5SEKย 686
-74.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82เธฟ255
$10.44SEKย 97.4
-25.10%
Cappuccino
$1.95เธฟ63.8
$4.71SEKย 43.95
-58.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85เธฟ27.77
$2.79SEKย 26.04
-69.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35เธฟ11.58
$2.17SEKย 20.23
-83.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13เธฟ69.6
$7.42SEKย 69.3
-71.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73เธฟ122
$6.25SEKย 58.3
-40.32%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ56.0
$1.50SEKย 14.02
14.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63เธฟ53.2
$2.42SEKย 22.57
-32.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14เธฟ37.15
$2.72SEKย 25.34
-58.09%
Eggs
$1.93เธฟ63.1
$4.37SEKย 40.82
-55.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21เธฟ530
$10.50SEKย 98.0
54.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12เธฟ102
$11.88SEKย 111
-73.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90เธฟ356
$16.42SEKย 153
-33.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75เธฟ90.0
$2.80SEKย 26.11
-1.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21เธฟ39.52
$2.69SEKย 25.10
-55.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62เธฟ53.0
$3.28SEKย 30.61
-50.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$3.72SEKย 34.73
-57.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40เธฟ45.70
$1.44SEKย 13.48
-2.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ38.17
$1.42SEKย 13.28
-17.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.60
$2.14SEKย 19.98
-69.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53เธฟ17.22
$1.54SEKย 14.39
-65.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69เธฟ153
$7.21SEKย 67.3
-34.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66เธฟ609
$9.67SEKย 90.2
92.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ58.8
$2.33SEKย 21.71
-22.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23เธฟ106
$2.78SEKย 25.93
16.19%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ29.26
$3.40SEKย 31.72
-73.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21เธฟ628
$75.0SEKย 700
-74.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.91
$6.52SEKย 60.9
-78.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29เธฟ42.12
$1.83SEKย 17.07
-29.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84เธฟ256
$53.6SEKย 500
-85.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27เธฟ41.58
$1.94SEKย 18.13
-34.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ694.9K
$32.9KSEKย 307.3K
-35.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2Kเธฟ725.4K
$34.5KSEKย 322.2K
-35.66%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1เธฟ2,256
$120SEKย 1,121
-42.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08เธฟ460
$28.66SEKย 267
-50.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00เธฟ588
$35.89SEKย 335
-49.85%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06เธฟ1,341
$40.72SEKย 380
0.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96เธฟ227
$25.67SEKย 240
-72.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ193
$17.82SEKย 166
-66.78%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,766
$146SEKย 1,363
104.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kเธฟ488.3K
$4,124SEKย 38.5K
262.61%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7เธฟ1,787
$82.4SEKย 769
-33.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77เธฟ874
$44.08SEKย 411
-39.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0เธฟ2,776
$86.0SEKย 802
-1.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6เธฟ2,306
$112SEKย 1,045
-36.94%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428เธฟ14.0K
$844SEKย 7,877
-49.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237เธฟ7,752
$645SEKย 6,015
-63.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801เธฟ26.2K
$1,410SEKย 13.2K
-43.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515เธฟ16.8K
$1,062SEKย 9,912
-51.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975เธฟ64.5K
$4,731SEKย 44.1K
-58.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475เธฟ48.2K
$3,447SEKย 32.2K
-57.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hรถllviken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617เธฟ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.66
7.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hรถllviken: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $844 in Hรถllviken. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $74.0 in Hรถllviken. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $340 โ 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 Hรถllviken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hรถllviken?
Hรถllviken costs about 104% 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 vs Hรถllviken?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,655 in Hรถllviken. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hรถllviken?
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 Hรถllviken?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $146 in Hรถllviken. 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 Hรถllviken?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Hรถllviken, 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 Hรถllviken?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Hรถllviken at $1,770. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hรถllviken it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hรถllviken?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,770 in Hรถllviken. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hรถllviken?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Hรถllviken?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hรถllviken makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared