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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,047 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,170 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,292 in Malmo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 58% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Malmo is 53% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$13.48 SEK 127

-85.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$85.6 SEK 804

-78.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$12.67 SEK 119

-38.28%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$5.05 SEK 47.48

-61.39%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.69 SEK 25.24

-68.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.15 SEK 20.21

-83.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$8.00 SEK 75.2

-73.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.20 SEK 77.1

-54.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.67 SEK 15.72

2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$3.11 SEK 29.19

-47.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.61 SEK 33.93

-68.42%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$4.42 SEK 41.49

-56.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$12.05 SEK 113

34.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.78 SEK 120

-75.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$27.50 SEK 258

-60.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.27 SEK 30.69

-15.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.78 SEK 26.12

-56.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.24 SEK 30.45

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$4.79 SEK 44.97

-66.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.83 SEK 17.19

-23.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.95 SEK 18.34

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.57 SEK 24.14

-74.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.34 SEK 12.58

-60.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$8.13 SEK 76.4

-42.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$12.10 SEK 114

54.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.53 SEK 23.75

-28.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.66 SEK 24.96

21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.36 SEK 31.58

-73.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$69.3 SEK 651

-72.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$6.44 SEK 60.5

-78.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$2.64 SEK 24.80

-51.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$56.2 SEK 528

-86.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.92 SEK 18.04

-33.85%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$33.1K SEK 310.7K

-35.67%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$33.8K SEK 317.4K

-34.27%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$154 SEK 1,442

-55.02%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$30.36 SEK 285

-53.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$40.38 SEK 379

-55.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$38.30 SEK 360

7.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$23.78 SEK 223

-70.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$17.81 SEK 167

-66.76%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$162 SEK 1,518

85.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$4,876 SEK 45.8K

206.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$105 SEK 983

-47.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$45.70 SEK 429

-41.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$124 SEK 1,166

-31.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$165 SEK 1,552

-57.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$932 SEK 8,751

-54.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$773 SEK 7,264

-69.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,721 SEK 16.2K

-53.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,343 SEK 12.6K

-61.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,311 SEK 40.5K

-54.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,360 SEK 31.6K

-56.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,353 SEK 31.5K

-81.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.86

2.88%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $932 in Malmo. 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 443% higher in Malmo, 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 $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $410 – 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 Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malmo costs about 136% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,071 in Malmo. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $162 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Malmo, 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 $866, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,047 in Malmo. 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, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.