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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,745 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,834 in Jonkoping, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,922 in Jonkoping, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Jonkoping, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Jonkoping is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$13.40 SEK 132
-84.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$92.2 SEK 908
-78.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$12.14 SEK 120
-53.29%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$4.58 SEK 45.16
-60.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$2.08 SEK 20.50
-62.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$2.09 SEK 20.55
-83.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$8.00 SEK 78.8
-72.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$7.36 SEK 72.5
-48.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.70 SEK 16.79
20.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.10 SEK 20.68
-28.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$3.68 SEK 36.28
-61.96%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$3.88 SEK 38.22
-41.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$12.75 SEK 126
26.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$12.04 SEK 119
-75.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$17.32 SEK 171
-45.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$3.02 SEK 29.73
-11.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$2.58 SEK 25.40
-57.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$2.92 SEK 28.80
-44.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$4.41 SEK 43.47
-66.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$1.70 SEK 16.71
-24.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$1.47 SEK 14.49
-27.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$1.76 SEK 17.34
-59.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$1.02 SEK 10.03
-48.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$8.29 SEK 81.7
-48.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$11.26 SEK 111
62.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.83 SEK 18.08
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.26 SEK 22.31
28.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$4.08 SEK 40.24
-78.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$77.1 SEK 760
-30.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$5.24 SEK 51.6
-77.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$1.15 SEK 11.35
-49.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$43.27 SEK 426
-94.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$1.78 SEK 17.51
-18.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$33.8K SEK 332.7K
-37.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$34.2K SEK 337.2K
-22.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
$79.6 SEK 785
-20.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$28.64 SEK 282
-54.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$42.27 SEK 417
-51.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$44.69 SEK 440
-12.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$30.32 SEK 299
-87.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$15.08 SEK 149
-56.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$162 SEK 1,598
383.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$83.5 SEK 822
-33.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$26.00 SEK 256
-4.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$102 SEK 1,006
-7.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$125 SEK 1,229
-40.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$914 SEK 9,004
-46.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$655 SEK 6,459
-56.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$1,378 SEK 13.6K
-35.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$1,197 SEK 11.8K
-56.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$3,655 SEK 36.0K
-46.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
$2,951 SEK 29.1K
-79.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.27
70.34%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jonkoping: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $914 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 391% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $92.0 in Jonkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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 87% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,618 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $162 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 44% 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 $932, than in Jonkoping at $1,745. 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 $932 versus $1,745 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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