Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Linkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,863 in Linkoping, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Linkoping, Sweden
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Linkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,863
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Linkoping actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,863 in Linkoping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Linkoping $1,863

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,877 in Linkoping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Linkoping $2,877

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,892 in Linkoping, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Linkoping $3,892

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Linkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Linkoping is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$13.42 SEK 132
-83.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$64.9 SEK 637
-70.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$9.93 SEK 97.5
-44.11%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.23 SEK 41.58
-60.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.55 SEK 25.06
-74.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.25 SEK 22.10
-86.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.88 SEK 67.6
-65.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$6.94 SEK 68.2
-47.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.72 SEK 16.92
13.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$2.79 SEK 27.42
-48.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$3.24 SEK 31.78
-58.95%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.98 SEK 39.05
-42.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$11.48 SEK 113
43.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$11.63 SEK 114
-76.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$16.50 SEK 162
-43.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.01 SEK 29.55
-21.93%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.52 SEK 24.75
-61.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.03 SEK 19.89
-21.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.43 SEK 43.52
-66.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.50 SEK 14.72
-14.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.61 SEK 15.76
-31.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.03 SEK 19.93
-65.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$1.66 SEK 16.33
-70.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$7.04 SEK 69.1
-41.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$10.16 SEK 99.8
72.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.91 SEK 18.73
-15.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.26 SEK 22.22
23.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$3.37 SEK 33.09
-74.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$77.0 SEK 756
-29.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$6.09 SEK 59.8
-80.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.66 SEK 16.27
-68.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$58.4 SEK 574
-95.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.69 SEK 16.62
-14.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$32.7K SEK 321.2K
-35.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$33.7K SEK 330.6K
-19.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$104 SEK 1,017
-39.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$19.71 SEK 194
-38.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$33.65 SEK 330
-40.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$35.52 SEK 349
5.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$33.10 SEK 325
-88.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$17.25 SEK 169
-62.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$221 SEK 2,168
233.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$4,338 SEK 42.6K
240.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$87.5 SEK 859
-39.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$33.32 SEK 327
-26.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$86.7 SEK 851
5.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$132 SEK 1,292
-45.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$817 SEK 8,022
-40.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$776 SEK 7,620
-60.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,452 SEK 14.3K
-30.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,355 SEK 13.3K
-53.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$3,950 SEK 38.8K
-40.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,879 SEK 28.3K
-44.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Linkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,643 SEK 25.9K
-77.68%
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 Linkoping: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Linkoping
$776 151% $467
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Linkoping
$347 47.9% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Linkoping
$153 40.5% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Linkoping
$157 66.1% $62
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Linkoping
$256 229% $178
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Linkoping
$105 70.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Linkoping
$70 39.3% $20

Cost Breakdown

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

Salaries in Linkoping are about 4.5 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 Linkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $347 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇪 Linkoping
🕒 Local time
06:04 6:04 AM
00:04 12:04 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
115,682
💱 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 = 37.83 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 11.01 SEK (100 SEK = 9.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Linkoping 7,850 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Linkoping

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 Linkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Linkoping?
Linkoping costs about 99% 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 Linkoping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,794 in Linkoping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Linkoping?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $817 in Linkoping.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Linkoping?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $221 in Linkoping. 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 Linkoping?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Linkoping, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Linkoping?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,863 in Linkoping. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Linkoping?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $1,863 in Linkoping. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Linkoping?
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 Linkoping?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Linkoping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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