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 $872 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,130 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,337 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,175 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,220 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

$2.01 ฿64.5

$12.97 SEK 119

-84.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿584

$56.3 SEK 517

-67.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿245

$10.71 SEK 98.4

-28.57%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.5

$4.56 SEK 41.90

-57.89%

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

$0.84 ฿26.97

$2.72 SEK 25.02

-69.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.42

$2.38 SEK 21.91

-84.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.2

$7.17 SEK 65.9

-69.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$7.42 SEK 68.2

-48.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.5

$1.84 SEK 16.93

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.0

$3.20 SEK 29.45

-49.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.98

$4.01 SEK 36.86

-71.32%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.2

$3.95 SEK 36.30

-50.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿511

$13.99 SEK 129

13.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.5

$11.76 SEK 108

-73.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿355

$15.55 SEK 143

-28.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.8

$3.63 SEK 33.37

-25.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.80

$2.60 SEK 23.86

-54.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.7

$1.54 SEK 14.19

11.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$5.58 SEK 51.2

-71.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.66

$1.51 SEK 13.84

-7.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.81

$2.12 SEK 19.51

-45.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.83

$2.65 SEK 24.32

-73.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.65

$1.74 SEK 16.03

-68.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$7.28 SEK 66.9

-37.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿605

$8.30 SEK 76.3

127.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

$1.71 SEK 15.75

6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$1.89 SEK 17.34

69.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.24

$4.16 SEK 38.25

-78.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿606

$101 SEK 929

-81.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.30

$14.63 SEK 134

-90.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.71

$1.17 SEK 10.80

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿263

$20.72 SEK 190

-60.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.29

$1.97 SEK 18.12

-37.56%

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

$21.2K ฿678.9K

$32.3K SEK 297.2K

-34.52%

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

$22.3K ฿715.3K

$34.8K SEK 319.9K

-35.91%

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

$69.9 ฿2,240

$88.4 SEK 812

-20.95%

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

$14.07 ฿451

$27.95 SEK 257

-49.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿567

$36.66 SEK 337

-51.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,328

$35.78 SEK 329

15.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿215

$25.71 SEK 236

-73.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$15.77 SEK 145

-63.60%

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

$299 ฿9,593

$90.6 SEK 833

230.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿481.2K

$733 SEK 6,736

1947.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,758

$72.5 SEK 666

-24.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿845

$44.57 SEK 410

-40.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,714

$118 SEK 1,088

-28.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,236

$105 SEK 965

-33.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$1,098 SEK 10.1K

-61.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,718

$944 SEK 8,674

-74.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.0K

$2,069 SEK 19.0K

-60.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.0K

$1,718 SEK 15.8K

-70.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.8K

$4,283 SEK 39.4K

-52.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.9K

$3,870 SEK 35.6K

-60.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.5K

$3,430 SEK 31.5K

-81.36%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sodertalje: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Chiang Mai versus $1,098 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 437% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $56 in Sodertalje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $367 – 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 144% 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 $1,308 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,195 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 $90.6 in Sodertalje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% 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 $872, than in Sodertalje at $2,130. 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 $872 versus $2,130 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.