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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,609 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,693 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,776 in Ludvika, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Ludvika is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$14.25 SEK 140

-85.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$66.0 SEK 651

-70.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.43 SEK 103

-45.64%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$4.48 SEK 44.19

-59.60%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$2.73 SEK 26.88

-71.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$2.21 SEK 21.81

-84.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$7.15 SEK 70.5

-69.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$7.20 SEK 70.9

-47.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.80 SEK 17.74

13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.65 SEK 26.11

-43.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$3.88 SEK 38.21

-63.92%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$5.11 SEK 50.4

-55.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.63 SEK 134

18.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$13.65 SEK 135

-78.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$28.45 SEK 280

-66.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.22 SEK 31.77

-16.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$3.35 SEK 32.98

-67.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$3.67 SEK 36.19

-55.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$4.22 SEK 41.54

-65.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.51 SEK 14.87

-15.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.74 SEK 17.18

-39.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.30 SEK 22.62

-68.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.56 SEK 15.42

-66.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$7.42 SEK 73.1

-42.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.27 SEK 101

78.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.96 SEK 19.35

-16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.34 SEK 23.02

23.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$13.07 SEK 129

-91.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.08 SEK 20.53

-72.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$82.8 SEK 816

-97.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.80 SEK 17.75

-19.44%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.0K SEK 335.4K

-38.27%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$33.3K SEK 327.8K

-20.55%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$103 SEK 1,017

-38.35%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$20.30 SEK 200

-36.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$47.77 SEK 471

-57.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$30.66 SEK 302

27.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$51.3 SEK 506

-92.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$16.61 SEK 164

-60.39%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$219 SEK 2,156

258.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$99.4 SEK 980

-44.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$54.8 SEK 540

-54.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$98.0 SEK 966

-3.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$216 SEK 2,131

-65.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$466 SEK 4,596

5.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$440 SEK 4,339

-34.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$984 SEK 9,695

-9.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$996 SEK 9,818

-47.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$3,781 SEK 37.3K

-84.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.2

74.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $466 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 529% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $66.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $418 – 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 73% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,414 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $66.0 in Ludvika. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 73% 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 $932, than in Ludvika at $1,609. 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 $932 versus $1,609 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.