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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,909 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,961 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,014 in Stenungsund, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Stenungsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Stenungsund is 38% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$14.15 SEK 137

-85.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$67.2 SEK 651

-70.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$9.23 SEK 89.5

-37.27%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$4.39 SEK 42.57

-58.31%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.58 SEK 15.36

-50.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$2.29 SEK 22.16

-86.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$7.14 SEK 69.3

-67.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$7.18 SEK 69.6

-48.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.48 SEK 14.33

37.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.23 SEK 31.31

-50.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$5.60 SEK 54.3

-74.64%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$4.96 SEK 48.07

-56.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$14.15 SEK 137

12.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$13.41 SEK 130

-77.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$17.74 SEK 172

-44.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.22 SEK 31.19

-18.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.70 SEK 26.16

-59.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.13 SEK 20.60

-23.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.94 SEK 47.93

-69.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.49 SEK 14.41

-16.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.84 SEK 17.84

-38.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.30 SEK 22.31

-67.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.88 SEK 18.18

-73.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$7.34 SEK 71.2

-41.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.38 SEK 81.2

114.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.04 SEK 19.78

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.27 SEK 22.03

27.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$2.54 SEK 24.65

-62.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$79.4 SEK 770

-30.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$13.32 SEK 129

-90.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.05 SEK 19.85

-74.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$84.3 SEK 817

-97.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.84 SEK 17.79

-21.74%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.6K SEK 335.7K

-38.80%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$34.5K SEK 334.7K

-20.92%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$180 SEK 1,743

-63.90%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$27.27 SEK 264

-51.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$48.86 SEK 474

-57.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$39.05 SEK 379

3.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$26.37 SEK 256

-85.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$16.75 SEK 162

-59.94%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$223 SEK 2,161

253.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,145 SEK 49.9K

193.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$104 SEK 1,007

-45.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$55.0 SEK 533

-54.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$99.4 SEK 963

-6.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$224 SEK 2,172

-66.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$937 SEK 9,085

-48.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$532 SEK 5,162

-46.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,306 SEK 12.7K

-30.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,196 SEK 11.6K

-55.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$3,674 SEK 35.6K

-46.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$2,799 SEK 27.1K

-48.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,998 SEK 19.4K

-69.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.2

74.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $937 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 230% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $67.0 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $389 – 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 101% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,863 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $223 in Stenungsund. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $950, than in Stenungsund at $1,909. 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 $950 versus $1,909 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.