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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,766 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,745 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,724 in Stenungsund, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Stenungsund is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$13.42 SEK 127

-85.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$69.4 SEK 658

-72.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$9.26 SEK 87.8

-16.31%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$4.66 SEK 44.16

-58.80%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$1.57 SEK 14.84

-49.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$2.43 SEK 23.04

-85.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$7.51 SEK 71.2

-70.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$7.23 SEK 68.6

-49.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$1.52 SEK 14.40

8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$3.05 SEK 28.92

-46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$4.02 SEK 38.16

-70.40%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$3.87 SEK 36.67

-48.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$13.84 SEK 131

15.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$11.80 SEK 112

-74.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$15.80 SEK 150

-31.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$3.49 SEK 33.05

-20.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$2.61 SEK 24.79

-54.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$1.59 SEK 15.08

3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$5.69 SEK 53.9

-73.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$1.49 SEK 14.15

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$2.14 SEK 20.29

-44.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$2.77 SEK 26.26

-74.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.70 SEK 16.11

-67.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$7.33 SEK 69.5

-37.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$8.41 SEK 79.7

96.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.72 SEK 16.33

6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.87 SEK 17.75

71.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$2.66 SEK 25.22

-66.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$75.1 SEK 712

-75.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$5.62 SEK 53.3

-75.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$1.67 SEK 15.80

-19.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$21.18 SEK 201

-62.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.92 SEK 18.17

-35.94%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$32.9K SEK 312.1K

-34.30%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$34.8K SEK 329.7K

-35.16%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$91.0 SEK 862

-22.45%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$28.43 SEK 270

-51.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$37.33 SEK 354

-53.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$39.99 SEK 379

3.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$25.63 SEK 243

-72.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$15.83 SEK 150

-63.55%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$144 SEK 1,369

112.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$738 SEK 7,000

1878.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$103 SEK 977

-45.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$44.24 SEK 419

-40.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$114 SEK 1,079

-24.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$153 SEK 1,446

-52.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$835 SEK 7,922

-48.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$651 SEK 6,177

-63.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$1,378 SEK 13.1K

-40.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$1,075 SEK 10.2K

-52.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$4,708 SEK 44.6K

-57.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$2,916 SEK 27.7K

-49.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$2,055 SEK 19.5K

-69.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $835 in Stenungsund. 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 232% higher in Stenungsund, 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 $69.0 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $363 – 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 Stenungsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stenungsund costs about 103% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,649 in Stenungsund. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $144 in Stenungsund. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Stenungsund, 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 $869, than in Stenungsund at $1,766. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stenungsund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,766 in Stenungsund. 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, Stenungsund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.