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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,505 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,800 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,096 in Stockholm, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 65% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Stockholm is 87% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$16.12 SEK 150

-87.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$112 SEK 1,045

-83.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$11.58 SEK 108

-32.47%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.08 SEK 47.40

-61.61%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.30 SEK 30.79

-74.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.50 SEK 23.35

-86.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$8.67 SEK 80.9

-75.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.30 SEK 77.5

-55.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.72 SEK 16.03

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.46 SEK 32.29

-52.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.99 SEK 37.28

-71.43%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.72 SEK 44.00

-59.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.03 SEK 122

24.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.91 SEK 120

-75.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.56 SEK 183

-44.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.62 SEK 33.73

-24.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.83 SEK 26.37

-57.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.39 SEK 31.62

-52.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.60 SEK 42.88

-65.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.90 SEK 17.70

-26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.88 SEK 17.54

-37.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.60 SEK 24.27

-74.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.61 SEK 14.98

-67.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.82 SEK 73.0

-40.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$12.85 SEK 120

45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.16 SEK 20.15

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.24 SEK 20.95

44.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$4.57 SEK 42.60

-80.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$110 SEK 1,028

-82.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$6.27 SEK 58.5

-77.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.57 SEK 14.67

-17.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$62.5 SEK 583

-87.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.82 SEK 16.98

-30.22%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$33.0K SEK 307.6K

-35.45%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$35.4K SEK 330.5K

-37.28%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$229 SEK 2,133

-69.79%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.82 SEK 269

-51.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$41.69 SEK 389

-56.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$46.58 SEK 435

-11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$38.46 SEK 359

-81.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$17.65 SEK 165

-66.46%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$165 SEK 1,541

81.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,662 SEK 62.2K

124.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$97.4 SEK 909

-43.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$49.44 SEK 461

-45.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$117 SEK 1,090

-27.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$204 SEK 1,907

-65.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,589 SEK 14.8K

-73.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$1,107 SEK 10.3K

-78.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,769 SEK 25.8K

-71.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,805 SEK 16.8K

-71.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$12.2K SEK 114.3K

-83.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$6,689 SEK 62.4K

-77.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,779 SEK 35.3K

-83.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

20.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,589 in Stockholm. 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 512% higher in Stockholm, 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 $112 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $401 – 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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stockholm costs about 189% 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 $3,758 in Stockholm. 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 $165 in Stockholm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Stockholm, 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 Stockholm at $2,505. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,505 in Stockholm. 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, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.