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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,823 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,802 in Stenungsund, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,781 in Stenungsund, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 54% cheaper than Stenungsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Stenungsund is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$12.97 SEK 119

-84.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$68.9 SEK 634

-73.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$8.98 SEK 82.6

-16.48%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$4.51 SEK 41.47

-57.21%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.56 SEK 14.32

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$2.41 SEK 22.16

-86.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$7.18 SEK 66.1

-70.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$7.17 SEK 66.0

-48.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.45 SEK 13.38

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$3.08 SEK 28.29

-49.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$3.92 SEK 36.03

-69.90%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$3.94 SEK 36.21

-49.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$13.93 SEK 128

15.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$11.94 SEK 110

-73.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$15.85 SEK 146

-30.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$3.61 SEK 33.17

-27.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$2.58 SEK 23.78

-54.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.54 SEK 14.19

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$5.59 SEK 51.4

-72.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$1.51 SEK 13.90

-8.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$2.10 SEK 19.31

-44.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$2.78 SEK 25.60

-76.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$1.75 SEK 16.10

-70.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$7.60 SEK 69.9

-40.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.87 SEK 81.6

106.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.71 SEK 15.78

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.96 SEK 18.06

62.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$2.71 SEK 24.98

-66.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$73.6 SEK 677

-74.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$5.66 SEK 52.1

-75.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$1.59 SEK 14.62

-17.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$21.22 SEK 195

-61.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.98 SEK 18.26

-35.35%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$32.2K SEK 296.5K

-33.92%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$34.0K SEK 312.9K

-36.19%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$89.5 SEK 824

-22.69%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$27.93 SEK 257

-49.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$36.86 SEK 339

-51.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$40.19 SEK 370

5.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$25.02 SEK 230

-73.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$15.67 SEK 144

-62.22%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$145 SEK 1,333

106.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$729 SEK 6,705

1937.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$107 SEK 983

-47.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$43.62 SEK 401

-38.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$118 SEK 1,088

-28.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$158 SEK 1,451

-54.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$827 SEK 7,609

-47.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$650 SEK 5,984

-63.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$1,390 SEK 12.8K

-42.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$1,085 SEK 9,982

-54.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$3,926 SEK 36.1K

-49.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$3,398 SEK 31.3K

-54.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$2,123 SEK 19.5K

-70.41%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $827 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 238% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $69 in Stenungsund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $364 – 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 116% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,735 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Stenungsund. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% 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 $845, than in Stenungsund at $1,823. 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 $845 versus $1,823 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.