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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Kalmar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,801 in Kalmar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,740 in Kalmar, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Kalmar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Kalmar is 39% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$16.05 SEK 151

-87.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$74.3 SEK 698

-74.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.56 SEK 99.2

-25.95%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.56 SEK 42.83

-57.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.89 SEK 27.15

-70.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.66 SEK 25.02

-86.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$9.71 SEK 91.2

-78.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.43 SEK 69.8

-49.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.48 SEK 13.87

15.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.39 SEK 22.43

-31.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.58 SEK 24.21

-55.81%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$4.88 SEK 45.83

-60.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.36 SEK 97.3

56.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.73 SEK 110

-73.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$16.15 SEK 152

-32.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.62 SEK 24.58

4.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.79 SEK 26.20

-56.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.12 SEK 29.35

-48.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.70 SEK 34.74

-57.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.43 SEK 13.42

-2.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.34 SEK 22.02

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.06 SEK 19.32

-67.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.66 SEK 15.55

-68.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.30 SEK 68.6

-35.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.90 SEK 93.0

88.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.11 SEK 19.84

-14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.66 SEK 15.58

94.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$2.83 SEK 26.57

-68.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$86.2 SEK 809

-77.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$7.25 SEK 68.1

-80.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.56 SEK 14.63

-17.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$52.6 SEK 494

-85.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.95 SEK 18.31

-34.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$27.5K SEK 258.1K

-22.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$28.1K SEK 264.0K

-20.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,258

$118 SEK 1,112

-41.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$28.08 SEK 264

-49.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$30.58 SEK 287

-41.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$29.43 SEK 276

39.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.57 SEK 146

-55.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$14.22 SEK 134

-58.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,775

$145 SEK 1,366

105.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$4,155 SEK 39.0K

259.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$63.8 SEK 599

-14.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$20.69 SEK 194

29.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$60.0 SEK 563

41.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$77.4 SEK 727

-8.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$939 SEK 8,818

-54.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$795 SEK 7,470

-70.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,389 SEK 13.0K

-42.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,183 SEK 11.1K

-56.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,304 SEK 40.4K

-54.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,931 SEK 27.5K

-49.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,061 SEK 28.8K

-79.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.66

7.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kalmar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $939 in Kalmar. 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 Kalmar, 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 $74.0 in Kalmar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $338 – 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 Kalmar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kalmar costs about 115% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,793 in Kalmar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Kalmar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Kalmar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Kalmar at $1,862. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalmar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,862 in Kalmar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalmar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.