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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,618 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,698 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,778 in Ludvika, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Ludvika is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$13.41 SEK 126

-85.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$69.1 SEK 648

-72.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$10.65 SEK 99.9

-27.23%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.61 SEK 43.29

-58.35%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.83 SEK 26.56

-72.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.48 SEK 23.25

-85.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.51 SEK 70.5

-70.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$7.36 SEK 69.0

-50.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.86 SEK 17.42

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.80 SEK 26.27

-41.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$4.08 SEK 38.31

-70.83%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$4.07 SEK 38.13

-50.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$14.15 SEK 133

12.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$14.81 SEK 139

-79.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$15.67 SEK 147

-30.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.54 SEK 33.24

-22.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.71 SEK 25.43

-56.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.89 SEK 36.53

-57.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.34 SEK 40.71

-64.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.57 SEK 14.71

-12.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.09 SEK 19.65

-43.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.57 SEK 24.10

-72.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.60 SEK 15.03

-65.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$7.45 SEK 69.9

-38.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.64 SEK 99.8

55.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.70 SEK 15.99

7.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.94 SEK 18.23

64.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$3.24 SEK 30.38

-72.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$54.3 SEK 509

-65.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$14.58 SEK 137

-90.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.66 SEK 15.58

-19.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$21.27 SEK 200

-63.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.88 SEK 17.60

-34.57%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$32.5K SEK 305.1K

-33.51%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.1K SEK 319.8K

-33.86%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$88.2 SEK 827

-19.98%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$20.75 SEK 195

-34.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$36.44 SEK 342

-52.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$31.02 SEK 291

33.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$52.9 SEK 496

-86.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$15.73 SEK 148

-63.32%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$146 SEK 1,366

110.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$748 SEK 7,020

1852.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$104 SEK 971

-46.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$43.81 SEK 411

-40.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$114 SEK 1,067

-24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$157 SEK 1,471

-53.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$473 SEK 4,434

-9.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$459 SEK 4,303

-47.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,010 SEK 9,472

-19.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,003 SEK 9,408

-49.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$3,969 SEK 37.2K

-84.41%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $473 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 541% 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 $69.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $386 – 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 86% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,428 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $146 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $869, than in Ludvika at $1,618. 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 $869 versus $1,618 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.