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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,792 in Solna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,718 in Solna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,643 in Solna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Solna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Solna is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$14.86 SEK 144

-86.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$56.6 SEK 548

-67.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.66 SEK 103

-29.83%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.94 SEK 47.85

-59.11%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$3.18 SEK 30.76

-73.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.55 SEK 14.99

-76.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.43 SEK 72.0

-71.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.84 SEK 75.9

-54.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.53 SEK 14.82

7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.68 SEK 25.96

-41.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.77 SEK 36.51

-68.44%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.84 SEK 37.19

-49.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.51 SEK 92.1

70.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$12.50 SEK 121

-76.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$14.81 SEK 143

-26.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.70 SEK 16.49

59.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.16 SEK 20.90

-45.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.62 SEK 25.34

-35.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.13 SEK 30.30

-48.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.61 SEK 15.63

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.03 SEK 19.61

-40.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.31 SEK 22.32

-71.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.08 SEK 10.47

-48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.53 SEK 72.9

-38.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.16 SEK 118

44.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.46 SEK 14.14

27.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$0.96 SEK 9.25

243.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$4.51 SEK 43.67

-80.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$102 SEK 984

-80.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$3.63 SEK 35.12

-62.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.57 SEK 15.23

-14.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$85.1 SEK 824

-90.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.91 SEK 18.46

-36.13%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$27.3K SEK 264.3K

-21.79%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.5K SEK 295.5K

-26.18%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$110 SEK 1,067

-35.86%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$28.28 SEK 274

-50.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$41.42 SEK 401

-57.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$47.03 SEK 455

-10.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.77 SEK 249

-73.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$15.27 SEK 148

-61.23%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$161 SEK 1,559

91.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,103 SEK 39.7K

262.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$93.9 SEK 909

-40.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$42.75 SEK 414

-38.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$91.9 SEK 890

-9.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$52.9 SEK 512

33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$845 SEK 8,177

-48.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$657 SEK 6,361

-63.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,421 SEK 13.8K

-42.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,086 SEK 10.5K

-52.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$6,909 SEK 66.9K

-72.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,895 SEK 28.0K

-49.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,730 SEK 36.1K

-84.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Solna: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $845 in Solna. 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 544% higher in Solna, 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 Solna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $320 – 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 Solna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Solna costs about 108% 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 $2,688 in Solna. 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 $161 in Solna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Solna, 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 Solna at $1,792. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,792 in Solna. 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, Solna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.