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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,780 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,895 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,010 in Jonkoping, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Jonkoping is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$12.63 SEK 122
-84.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$86.5 SEK 838
-78.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$11.77 SEK 114
-36.45%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$4.85 SEK 47.00
-58.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$1.90 SEK 18.38
-55.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$2.10 SEK 20.30
-82.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$8.05 SEK 77.9
-73.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$7.50 SEK 72.6
-52.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.61 SEK 15.56
2.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$2.15 SEK 20.78
-26.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$2.96 SEK 28.61
-59.80%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$3.95 SEK 38.23
-50.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$13.10 SEK 127
23.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$11.37 SEK 110
-73.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$17.22 SEK 167
-36.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$3.30 SEK 31.91
-17.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$2.56 SEK 24.83
-54.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$2.78 SEK 26.90
-39.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$4.37 SEK 42.32
-63.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.67 SEK 16.19
-17.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$1.63 SEK 15.78
-26.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$1.99 SEK 19.25
-66.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$1.28 SEK 12.38
-56.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$7.41 SEK 71.8
-37.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$11.38 SEK 110
54.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.88 SEK 18.23
-1.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.24 SEK 21.72
47.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$4.27 SEK 41.38
-79.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$80.3 SEK 778
-75.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$5.59 SEK 54.1
-75.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$0.89 SEK 8.64
50.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$78.4 SEK 759
-89.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.91 SEK 18.53
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$24.8K SEK 239.7K
-13.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$33.1K SEK 320.4K
-31.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$119 SEK 1,153
-40.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$29.28 SEK 284
-52.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$40.22 SEK 389
-56.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$43.01 SEK 416
-2.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$26.68 SEK 258
-74.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$16.75 SEK 162
-64.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$151 SEK 1,457
104.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$4,190 SEK 40.6K
255.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$81.7 SEK 791
-31.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$34.67 SEK 336
-24.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$104 SEK 1,011
-20.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$129 SEK 1,247
-45.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$846 SEK 8,193
-48.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$675 SEK 6,535
-64.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$1,439 SEK 13.9K
-42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$1,234 SEK 12.0K
-58.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$3,381 SEK 32.7K
-43.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$2,876 SEK 27.8K
-79.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.53
10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jonkoping: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $846 in Jonkoping. 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 396% higher in Jonkoping, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $87.0 in Jonkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $346 – 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 Jonkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Jonkoping?
Jonkoping 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Jonkoping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,670 in Jonkoping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Jonkoping?
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 Jonkoping?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $151 in Jonkoping. 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 Jonkoping?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Jonkoping, 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 Jonkoping?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Jonkoping at $1,780. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jonkoping it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Jonkoping?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,780 in Jonkoping. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Jonkoping?
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 Jonkoping?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jonkoping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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