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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,817 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,860 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,902 in Jonkoping, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Jonkoping is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.6
$12.81 SEK 120
-84.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$87.1 SEK 818
-78.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿256
$12.13 SEK 114
-35.53%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.9
$4.88 SEK 45.82
-60.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.80
$1.86 SEK 17.50
-54.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.60
$2.16 SEK 20.25
-83.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.7
$7.93 SEK 74.5
-73.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$7.31 SEK 68.7
-48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.61 SEK 15.09
6.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.3
$2.18 SEK 20.46
-25.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.18
$3.03 SEK 28.42
-62.38%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.2
$3.86 SEK 36.27
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$12.74 SEK 120
27.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$11.42 SEK 107
-72.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$16.97 SEK 159
-35.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.34 SEK 31.36
-17.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.56
$2.64 SEK 24.81
-54.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$2.77 SEK 26.02
-41.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.9
$4.45 SEK 41.84
-64.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.75
$1.72 SEK 16.17
-18.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.20
$1.57 SEK 14.78
-25.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.62
$2.06 SEK 19.31
-67.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.24
$1.29 SEK 12.10
-58.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$7.41 SEK 69.6
-36.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿610
$10.94 SEK 103
70.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.86 SEK 17.49
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.25 SEK 21.13
43.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.28
$4.11 SEK 38.60
-78.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$78.2 SEK 734
-75.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.96
$5.43 SEK 51.0
-74.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.16
$0.83 SEK 7.81
55.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$78.0 SEK 732
-89.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.62
$1.90 SEK 17.85
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿695.5K
$25.3K SEK 237.6K
-15.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿726.1K
$33.5K SEK 314.8K
-33.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,258
$122 SEK 1,148
-43.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$28.68 SEK 269
-50.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$41.48 SEK 390
-56.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,342
$42.30 SEK 397
-2.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$27.25 SEK 256
-74.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$16.59 SEK 156
-64.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,775
$154 SEK 1,444
94.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.8K
$4,087 SEK 38.4K
265.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,788
$79.5 SEK 747
-31.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿875
$33.93 SEK 319
-21.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,778
$104 SEK 979
-18.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,308
$130 SEK 1,224
-45.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$860 SEK 8,074
-50.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,759
$674 SEK 6,332
-64.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$1,442 SEK 13.5K
-44.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.9K
$1,237 SEK 11.6K
-58.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$3,633 SEK 34.1K
-45.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$2,738 SEK 25.7K
-77.45%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jonkoping: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $860 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 343% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $87.0 in Jonkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $345 – 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 110% 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 Jonkoping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,725 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 Jonkoping?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 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 Jonkoping?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 Jonkoping?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Jonkoping at $1,817. 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 $866 versus $1,817 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 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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