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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,328 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,498 in Sodertalje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,668 in Sodertalje, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Sodertalje is 69% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$14.48 SEK 138

-85.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$68.9 SEK 657

-71.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$10.36 SEK 98.8

-45.46%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$4.63 SEK 44.18

-60.91%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$2.54 SEK 24.17

-72.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$2.14 SEK 20.38

-85.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$7.50 SEK 71.5

-70.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.75 SEK 64.4

-46.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.85 SEK 17.63

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$3.17 SEK 30.26

-52.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$5.41 SEK 51.6

-75.23%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$5.04 SEK 48.01

-55.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$14.14 SEK 135

14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$13.48 SEK 129

-78.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$17.90 SEK 171

-44.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.39 SEK 32.28

-24.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.73 SEK 26.06

-61.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.05 SEK 19.53

-21.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$4.86 SEK 46.38

-68.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.50 SEK 14.29

-15.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.81 SEK 17.29

-40.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$2.37 SEK 22.61

-69.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$1.91 SEK 18.25

-73.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$7.20 SEK 68.6

-41.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$10.33 SEK 98.5

72.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.06 SEK 19.64

-17.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.31 SEK 21.99

22.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$4.23 SEK 40.35

-78.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$115 SEK 1,098

-53.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$13.37 SEK 127

-90.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$2.11 SEK 20.12

-72.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$83.3 SEK 794

-97.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.78 SEK 17.01

-20.79%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$34.3K SEK 327.3K

-37.53%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$34.1K SEK 325.5K

-19.95%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$186 SEK 1,777

-65.85%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$26.86 SEK 256

-52.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$48.65 SEK 464

-58.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$35.21 SEK 336

10.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$16.44 SEK 157

-59.00%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$223 SEK 2,121

249.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$101 SEK 966

-46.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$55.5 SEK 529

-54.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$99.1 SEK 945

-4.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$222 SEK 2,118

-66.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$1,102 SEK 10.5K

-55.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$934 SEK 8,903

-69.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$2,057 SEK 19.6K

-56.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$1,670 SEK 15.9K

-69.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$4,134 SEK 39.4K

-52.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$3,651 SEK 34.8K

-59.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$3,257 SEK 31.1K

-81.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.87

14.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sodertalje: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,102 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 in Sodertalje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $398 – 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 146% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,492 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $223 in Sodertalje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 $947, than in Sodertalje at $2,328. 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 $947 versus $2,328 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.