Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Köping

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,681 in Köping, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Köping, Sweden
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Köping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,681
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Köping

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Köping actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,681 in Köping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Köping $1,681

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,607 in Köping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Köping $2,607

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,534 in Köping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Köping $3,534

Chiang Mai is about 44% cheaper than Köping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Köping is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$13.88 SEK 136
-83.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$65.4 SEK 643
-70.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$10.14 SEK 99.6
-45.27%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.24 SEK 41.66
-60.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.69 SEK 26.44
-76.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.24 SEK 21.98
-86.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.86 SEK 67.4
-65.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$7.23 SEK 71.0
-49.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.34 SEK 13.11
45.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$2.37 SEK 23.24
-39.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$3.56 SEK 34.94
-62.64%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.08 SEK 30.20
-25.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$11.59 SEK 114
41.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$9.93 SEK 97.5
-72.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$13.67 SEK 134
-31.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.97 SEK 19.36
19.29%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.18 SEK 21.38
-55.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.00 SEK 19.59
-20.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.48 SEK 44.03
-66.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.27 SEK 12.44
0.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.27 SEK 12.51
-13.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.85 SEK 18.16
-61.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.79 SEK 7.75
-37.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$6.96 SEK 68.3
-40.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$9.97 SEK 97.9
75.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.94 SEK 19.01
-17.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.15 SEK 21.14
29.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$3.27 SEK 32.14
-73.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$78.0 SEK 766
-30.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$13.07 SEK 128
-91.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$2.07 SEK 20.37
-74.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$81.0 SEK 796
-97.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.72 SEK 16.87
-15.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$33.6K SEK 330.3K
-37.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$34.0K SEK 333.7K
-20.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$79.7 SEK 783
-22.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$14.85 SEK 146
-18.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$24.74 SEK 243
-18.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$37.80 SEK 371
-1.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$26.78 SEK 263
-85.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$15.92 SEK 156
-59.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$221 SEK 2,167
233.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$4,957 SEK 48.7K
197.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$99.3 SEK 975
-46.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$52.8 SEK 518
-53.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$93.7 SEK 920
-2.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$214 SEK 2,097
-66.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$817 SEK 8,019
-40.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$610 SEK 5,990
-49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,342 SEK 13.2K
-25.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,006 SEK 9,883
-37.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$4,097 SEK 40.2K
-42.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,847 SEK 28.0K
-44.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Köping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$3,066 SEK 30.1K
-80.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.8
98.93%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Köping: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Köping
$610 97.5% $301
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Köping
$299 27.8% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Köping
$207 90.2% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Köping
$119 26.3% $25
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Köping
$261 236% $183
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Köping
$115 86.6% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Köping
$70 38.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $817 in Köping. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Köping are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $65 in Köping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $299 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇪 Köping
🕒 Local time
17:43 5:43 PM
11:43 11:43 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
17,743
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Köping 7,820 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Köping

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Köping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Köping?
Köping costs about 80% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Köping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,521 in Köping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Köping?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $817 in Köping.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Köping?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $221 in Köping. 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 Köping?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Köping, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Köping?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,681 in Köping. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Köping?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,681 in Köping. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Köping?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Köping?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Köping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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