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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,748 in Nykรถping, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,714 in Nykรถping, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,680 in Nykรถping, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Nykรถping, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Nykรถping is 30% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 เธฟ64.3
$10.30 SEKย 96.7
-80.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 เธฟ612
$74.7 SEKย 701
-74.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 เธฟ252
$10.66 SEKย 100
-27.30%
Cappuccino
$1.92 เธฟ62.5
$4.55 SEKย 42.71
-57.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 เธฟ25.79
$2.68 SEKย 25.13
-70.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 เธฟ11.62
$2.37 SEKย 22.22
-84.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 เธฟ72.1
$7.74 SEKย 72.6
-71.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$7.52 SEKย 70.6
-51.33%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 เธฟ53.8
$1.62 SEKย 15.22
1.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
$2.75 SEKย 25.77
-40.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ38.86
$3.78 SEKย 35.50
-68.52%
Eggs
$2.00 เธฟ65.1
$4.05 SEKย 37.95
-50.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 เธฟ520
$11.81 SEKย 111
35.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 เธฟ98.5
$11.65 SEKย 109
-73.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 เธฟ354
$16.91 SEKย 159
-35.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 เธฟ90.0
$2.30 SEKย 21.56
20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ38.42
$2.59 SEKย 24.31
-54.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ53.5
$2.98 SEKย 28.00
-44.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 เธฟ49.51
$4.37 SEKย 41.01
-65.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 เธฟ45.10
$1.59 SEKย 14.91
-13.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ38.84
$1.86 SEKย 17.48
-36.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 เธฟ22.86
$1.13 SEKย 10.64
-38.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ18.13
$1.40 SEKย 13.17
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 เธฟ149
$7.57 SEKย 71.0
-39.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 เธฟ539
$9.27 SEKย 86.9
78.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 เธฟ59.5
$1.98 SEKย 18.55
-7.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ104
$1.97 SEKย 18.49
62.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 เธฟ28.56
$3.45 SEKย 32.37
-74.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 เธฟ610
$48.59 SEKย 456
-61.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ44.16
$6.13 SEKย 57.5
-77.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 เธฟ43.65
$1.59 SEKย 14.89
-15.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 เธฟ256
$61.1 SEKย 573
-87.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 เธฟ39.92
$2.03 SEKย 19.08
-39.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K เธฟ704.3K
$32.7K SEKย 306.9K
-33.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K เธฟ734.3K
$33.8K SEKย 317.1K
-33.30%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 เธฟ2,298
$114 SEKย 1,065
-37.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 เธฟ445
$28.51 SEKย 267
-52.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 เธฟ568
$23.79 SEKย 223
-26.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 เธฟ1,346
$39.38 SEKย 369
4.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 เธฟ227
$25.06 SEKย 235
-72.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 เธฟ188
$15.99 SEKย 150
-63.91%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 เธฟ10.0K
$145 SEKย 1,364
111.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K เธฟ475.9K
$4,215 SEKย 39.5K
246.59%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 เธฟ1,817
$95.1 SEKย 892
-41.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 เธฟ854
$41.09 SEKย 385
-36.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 เธฟ2,793
$97.9 SEKย 918
-12.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 เธฟ2,353
$150 SEKย 1,412
-51.99%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 เธฟ14.0K
$828 SEKย 7,770
-48.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 เธฟ7,774
$646 SEKย 6,059
-63.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 เธฟ26.6K
$1,368 SEKย 12.8K
-40.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 เธฟ16.6K
$1,065 SEKย 9,990
-52.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 เธฟ64.6K
$4,500 SEKย 42.2K
-55.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 เธฟ48.3K
$3,118 SEKย 29.2K
-52.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nykรถping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 เธฟ20.2K
$2,612 SEKย 24.5K
-76.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.53
10.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Nykรถping: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $828 in Nykรถping. 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 322% higher in Nykรถping, 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 $75.0 in Nykรถping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $342 โ€“ 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 Nykรถping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
Nykรถping costs about 101% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Nykรถping?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,623 in Nykรถping. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Nykรถping?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Nykรถping. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Nykรถping, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Nykรถping at $1,748. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nykรถping it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,748 in Nykรถping. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Nykรถping?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Nykรถping?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nykรถping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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