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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,773 in Solna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,691 in Solna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,610 in Solna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than Solna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Solna is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$14.78 SEK 139

-86.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$56.1 SEK 527

-66.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.42 SEK 97.9

-24.95%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$5.02 SEK 47.18

-61.16%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$3.19 SEK 30.01

-73.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.51 SEK 14.19

-76.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.63 SEK 71.7

-72.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.13 SEK 76.3

-54.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.56 SEK 14.62

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.67 SEK 25.07

-38.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.78 SEK 35.48

-69.84%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.92 SEK 36.85

-50.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.56 SEK 89.8

69.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.28 SEK 115

-74.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$14.88 SEK 140

-26.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.66 SEK 15.56

65.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.16 SEK 20.26

-43.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.60 SEK 24.44

-37.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.19 SEK 29.94

-50.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.55 SEK 14.53

-9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.04 SEK 19.14

-42.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.35 SEK 22.04

-71.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.11 SEK 10.45

-52.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.55 SEK 70.9

-37.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$14.78 SEK 139

26.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.40 SEK 13.16

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.91 SEK 8.54

254.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$4.54 SEK 42.68

-80.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$100 SEK 943

-80.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$3.78 SEK 35.47

-62.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.58 SEK 14.84

-18.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$85.5 SEK 803

-90.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.96 SEK 18.38

-35.20%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$27.2K SEK 255.4K

-21.73%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$30.1K SEK 283.1K

-26.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$109 SEK 1,021

-36.47%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.80 SEK 271

-51.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$41.35 SEK 388

-56.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$47.03 SEK 442

-12.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.68 SEK 241

-72.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$15.01 SEK 141

-60.56%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$157 SEK 1,477

90.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$4,218 SEK 39.6K

254.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$93.5 SEK 879

-41.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$42.46 SEK 399

-36.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$93.7 SEK 880

-9.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$52.5 SEK 493

34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$840 SEK 7,894

-49.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$657 SEK 6,171

-63.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,416 SEK 13.3K

-43.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,090 SEK 10.2K

-52.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$7,167 SEK 67.3K

-72.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$5,298 SEK 49.8K

-72.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,958 SEK 37.2K

-84.40%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Solna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $840 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 541% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $56.0 in Solna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $325 – 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 105% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,659 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $157 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 $866, than in Solna at $1,773. 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 $866 versus $1,773 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.