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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,121 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,231 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,341 in Sodertalje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Sodertalje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Sodertalje is 58% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$13.04 SEK 122

-85.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$55.7 SEK 522

-66.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.74 SEK 101

-27.19%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.54 SEK 42.58

-57.05%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.80 SEK 26.26

-69.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.42 SEK 22.67

-85.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$7.33 SEK 68.8

-70.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.58 SEK 71.1

-50.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.85 SEK 17.39

-7.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.05 SEK 28.60

-46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.98 SEK 37.35

-71.36%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.94 SEK 36.99

-51.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.91 SEK 130

16.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.98 SEK 112

-73.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.43 SEK 145

-29.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.53 SEK 33.15

-22.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.62 SEK 24.55

-53.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.56 SEK 14.63

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$5.60 SEK 52.5

-71.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.52 SEK 14.25

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.08 SEK 19.52

-43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.80 SEK 26.23

-76.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.66 SEK 15.60

-68.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.20 SEK 67.5

-34.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.96 SEK 103

70.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.73 SEK 16.18

4.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.94 SEK 18.22

66.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$4.11 SEK 38.55

-78.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$98.8 SEK 927

-80.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$14.77 SEK 138

-90.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.19 SEK 11.18

8.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$20.91 SEK 196

-62.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.01 SEK 18.89

-36.82%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.5K SEK 304.5K

-34.47%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.6K SEK 324.9K

-35.88%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$90.2 SEK 846

-23.42%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.75 SEK 270

-51.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$36.32 SEK 341

-50.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$34.84 SEK 327

17.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.04 SEK 235

-72.20%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$15.57 SEK 146

-61.98%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$89.8 SEK 842

233.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$740 SEK 6,936

1921.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$74.5 SEK 699

-26.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$43.28 SEK 406

-38.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$115 SEK 1,079

-26.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$107 SEK 1,006

-34.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,110 SEK 10.4K

-61.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$938 SEK 8,799

-74.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,134 SEK 20.0K

-62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,666 SEK 15.6K

-69.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,226 SEK 39.6K

-53.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$3,818 SEK 35.8K

-61.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,339 SEK 31.3K

-81.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.87

2.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sodertalje: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,110 in Sodertalje. 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 441% higher in Sodertalje, 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 $56.0 in Sodertalje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $371 – 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 Sodertalje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sodertalje costs about 145% 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 $3,181 in Sodertalje. 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 $89.8 in Sodertalje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Sodertalje, 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 Sodertalje at $2,121. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sodertalje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,121 in Sodertalje. 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, Sodertalje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.