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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,564 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,659 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,753 in Ludvika, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 46% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Ludvika is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$13.27 SEK 126

-84.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$68.0 SEK 646

-72.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$10.73 SEK 102

-26.75%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$4.66 SEK 44.31

-56.44%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$2.83 SEK 26.84

-71.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.38 SEK 22.65

-85.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$7.35 SEK 69.9

-70.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$7.57 SEK 72.0

-51.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.83 SEK 17.40

-5.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$2.79 SEK 26.54

-43.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$3.99 SEK 37.92

-69.92%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$4.06 SEK 38.59

-51.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$13.82 SEK 131

17.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$14.51 SEK 138

-78.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$15.63 SEK 148

-30.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.65 SEK 34.66

-24.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.66 SEK 25.23

-56.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.94 SEK 37.43

-56.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$4.27 SEK 40.61

-62.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.51 SEK 14.33

-7.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.15 SEK 20.42

-46.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$2.71 SEK 25.71

-75.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.58 SEK 15.04

-67.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$7.36 SEK 70.0

-36.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.15 SEK 96.4

75.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.80 SEK 17.10

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.95 SEK 18.56

71.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$3.19 SEK 30.27

-71.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$53.7 SEK 510

-65.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$14.32 SEK 136

-90.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.66 SEK 15.76

-19.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$20.69 SEK 197

-60.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.80 SEK 17.07

-31.67%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$32.6K SEK 309.3K

-34.15%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$33.8K SEK 320.9K

-35.39%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$89.9 SEK 854

-20.65%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$20.86 SEK 198

-32.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$36.46 SEK 346

-50.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$31.63 SEK 300

29.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$53.5 SEK 508

-87.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$15.66 SEK 149

-63.47%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$145 SEK 1,379

112.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$734 SEK 6,969

1900.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$103 SEK 982

-46.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$43.56 SEK 414

-40.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$115 SEK 1,090

-26.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$153 SEK 1,449

-53.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$483 SEK 4,584

-12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$448 SEK 4,254

-45.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,008 SEK 9,580

-20.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$989 SEK 9,397

-48.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$3,839 SEK 36.5K

-84.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $483 in Ludvika. 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 545% higher in Ludvika, 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 $68.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $383 – 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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ludvika costs about 84% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,347 in Ludvika. 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Ludvika, 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 $852, than in Ludvika at $1,564. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludvika it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,564 in Ludvika. 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, Ludvika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.