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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,084 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,201 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,318 in Sodertalje, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Sodertalje is 56% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$13.35 SEK 129

-85.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$56.8 SEK 549

-67.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.61 SEK 103

-29.50%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.70 SEK 45.52

-57.02%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.68 SEK 25.98

-68.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.44 SEK 23.61

-85.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.34 SEK 71.1

-70.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.49 SEK 72.5

-52.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.79 SEK 17.34

-7.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$3.16 SEK 30.59

-50.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.98 SEK 38.54

-70.10%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.86 SEK 37.37

-49.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.34 SEK 139

12.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$11.84 SEK 115

-74.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$15.58 SEK 151

-29.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.62 SEK 35.06

-25.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.57 SEK 24.88

-54.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.55 SEK 15.02

9.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$5.61 SEK 54.3

-71.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.55 SEK 15.04

-10.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.09 SEK 20.20

-42.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.66 SEK 25.71

-74.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.69 SEK 16.40

-66.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.60 SEK 73.5

-38.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.32 SEK 99.9

70.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.78 SEK 17.21

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.89 SEK 18.33

74.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$4.17 SEK 40.35

-78.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$102 SEK 984

-80.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$14.58 SEK 141

-90.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.20 SEK 11.59

11.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$21.39 SEK 207

-61.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.93 SEK 18.65

-36.79%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$32.9K SEK 318.7K

-35.13%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.8K SEK 327.6K

-33.42%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$88.2 SEK 854

-19.90%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$28.93 SEK 280

-51.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$36.02 SEK 349

-51.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$35.33 SEK 342

19.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.75 SEK 249

-73.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$15.53 SEK 150

-61.88%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$87.9 SEK 851

251.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$752 SEK 7,278

1879.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$72.9 SEK 706

-23.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$42.91 SEK 415

-39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$114 SEK 1,107

-27.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$106 SEK 1,024

-33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,090 SEK 10.6K

-60.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$939 SEK 9,091

-74.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$2,097 SEK 20.3K

-60.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,695 SEK 16.4K

-69.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$4,075 SEK 39.5K

-53.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$3,671 SEK 35.5K

-60.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,239 SEK 31.4K

-82.11%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sodertalje: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,090 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 459% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $57.0 in Sodertalje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 142% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,127 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $87.9 in Sodertalje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $861, than in Sodertalje at $2,084. 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 $861 versus $2,084 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.