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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,831 in Linkoping, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,843 in Linkoping, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,856 in Linkoping, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Linkoping is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$12.94 SEK 125

-84.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$67.6 SEK 655

-72.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.76 SEK 104

-30.48%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.67 SEK 45.22

-56.75%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.83 SEK 27.38

-69.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.39 SEK 23.19

-84.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.25 SEK 70.2

-70.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.30 SEK 70.7

-50.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.79 SEK 17.36

-7.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$3.08 SEK 29.86

-49.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.96 SEK 38.38

-69.95%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.99 SEK 38.65

-51.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$13.94 SEK 135

16.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$11.70 SEK 113

-74.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$15.86 SEK 154

-31.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.69 SEK 35.71

-26.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.61 SEK 25.26

-55.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.61 SEK 15.62

4.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$5.61 SEK 54.4

-71.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.49 SEK 14.40

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.09 SEK 20.21

-42.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.74 SEK 26.48

-75.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.67 SEK 16.18

-66.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.46 SEK 72.2

-37.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.38 SEK 101

69.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.78 SEK 17.19

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.97 SEK 19.04

67.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$3.39 SEK 32.84

-74.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$79.6 SEK 771

-75.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$14.54 SEK 141

-90.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.60 SEK 15.50

-16.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$21.25 SEK 206

-61.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$2.00 SEK 19.34

-39.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$32.8K SEK 317.6K

-34.91%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$34.0K SEK 329.1K

-33.73%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$88.4 SEK 856

-20.05%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$28.60 SEK 277

-50.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$36.82 SEK 357

-52.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$42.81 SEK 415

-1.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$54.4 SEK 526

-87.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$16.06 SEK 156

-63.14%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$142 SEK 1,371

117.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$734 SEK 7,105

1927.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$103 SEK 996

-45.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$44.54 SEK 431

-41.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$116 SEK 1,125

-28.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$157 SEK 1,519

-55.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$828 SEK 8,019

-47.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$646 SEK 6,254

-63.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,272 SEK 12.3K

-35.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,090 SEK 10.6K

-53.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$4,608 SEK 44.6K

-58.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,826 SEK 27.4K

-48.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$2,753 SEK 26.7K

-78.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Linkoping: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $828 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 run about 375% higher in Linkoping, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $68.0 in Linkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $370 – 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 Linkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Linkoping costs about 113% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,747 in Linkoping. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $142 in Linkoping. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Linkoping, 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 $861, than in Linkoping at $1,831. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Linkoping it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,831 in Linkoping. 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, Linkoping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.