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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,332 in Sollentuna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,377 in Sollentuna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,422 in Sollentuna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Sollentuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Sollentuna is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 ฿62.8
$15.53 SEK 143
-87.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 ฿594
$84.9 SEK 781
-78.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 ฿241
$10.47 SEK 96.4
-28.37%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ฿62.3
$4.65 SEK 42.76
-58.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.08
$3.29 SEK 30.27
-76.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.42
$2.44 SEK 22.40
-86.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 ฿69.2
$7.17 SEK 66.0
-70.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿120
$7.43 SEK 68.4
-50.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿55.2
$1.79 SEK 16.48
-4.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿50.3
$3.22 SEK 29.61
-51.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.06
$3.91 SEK 35.93
-69.82%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.9
$4.34 SEK 39.89
-54.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 ฿517
$13.05 SEK 120
22.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿102
$13.31 SEK 122
-76.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿353
$19.50 SEK 179
-43.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿84.7
$3.49 SEK 32.09
-24.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.61
$2.68 SEK 24.64
-56.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.0
$3.13 SEK 28.78
-47.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.51
$4.44 SEK 40.82
-65.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿44.34
$1.70 SEK 15.64
-18.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.54
$2.15 SEK 19.80
-45.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.25
$2.55 SEK 23.49
-74.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.55
$1.61 SEK 14.84
-68.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 ฿146
$7.94 SEK 73.0
-43.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿590
$12.81 SEK 118
43.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿57.9
$1.70 SEK 15.66
5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.90 SEK 17.52
67.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿28.97
$4.56 SEK 41.95
-80.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 ฿612
$108 SEK 990
-82.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.50
$6.09 SEK 56.0
-76.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 ฿42.15
$1.66 SEK 15.31
-21.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 ฿261
$21.28 SEK 196
-61.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.08
$1.99 SEK 18.28
-35.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿686.1K
$32.1K SEK 295.0K
-33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ฿699.3K
$33.9K SEK 312.2K
-36.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 ฿2,230
$138 SEK 1,266
-49.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 ฿450
$29.45 SEK 271
-52.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 ฿578
$41.55 SEK 382
-56.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 ฿1,363
$39.05 SEK 359
8.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 ฿214
$25.77 SEK 237
-74.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿191
$17.61 SEK 162
-66.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,640
$151 SEK 1,394
97.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿478.4K
$4,130 SEK 38.0K
259.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,810
$95.4 SEK 878
-41.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 ฿868
$43.18 SEK 397
-37.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 ฿2,735
$114 SEK 1,049
-25.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,314
$170 SEK 1,568
-57.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 ฿14.0K
$1,443 SEK 13.3K
-69.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ฿7,727
$1,040 SEK 9,564
-76.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 ฿25.7K
$2,434 SEK 22.4K
-67.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,410 SEK 13.0K
-64.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 ฿64.3K
$4,404 SEK 40.5K
-54.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 ฿49.4K
$3,034 SEK 27.9K
-49.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sollentuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 ฿20.2K
$3,804 SEK 35.0K
-83.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Sollentuna: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $1,443 in Sollentuna. 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 506% higher in Sollentuna, 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 $85 in Sollentuna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $392 – 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 Sollentuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sollentuna?
Sollentuna costs about 176% 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 Sollentuna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,499 in Sollentuna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Sollentuna?
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 Sollentuna?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $151 in Sollentuna. 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 Sollentuna?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Sollentuna, 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 Sollentuna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Sollentuna at $2,332. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sollentuna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Sollentuna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $2,332 in Sollentuna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sollentuna?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Sollentuna?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sollentuna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities