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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,805 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,833 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,861 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 48% cheaper than Sundbyberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 30% below the global median, while Sundbyberg is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.7
$14.17 SEK 141
-85.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.91 ฿666
$64.9 SEK 644
-69.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 ฿187
$10.22 SEK 102
-45.40%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ฿58.1
$4.50 SEK 44.72
-61.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$2.60 SEK 25.80
-72.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.71
$2.27 SEK 22.53
-85.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 ฿75.3
$7.09 SEK 70.4
-68.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿128
$7.20 SEK 71.5
-47.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.6
$1.72 SEK 17.04
17.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.6
$3.18 SEK 31.54
-50.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.72
$3.11 SEK 30.84
-54.98%
Eggs
$2.15 ฿72.0
$4.45 SEK 44.21
-51.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.63 ฿523
$11.86 SEK 118
31.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.6
$13.04 SEK 129
-77.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.49 ฿318
$27.29 SEK 271
-65.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ฿87.2
$3.26 SEK 32.34
-20.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ฿36.19
$2.73 SEK 27.10
-60.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ฿53.3
$2.01 SEK 19.96
-20.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.62
$4.84 SEK 48.06
-70.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.72
$1.43 SEK 14.16
-10.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.18
$1.76 SEK 17.53
-36.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 ฿24.30
$2.35 SEK 23.38
-68.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.72
$1.90 SEK 18.88
-73.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿143
$5.93 SEK 58.9
-27.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.67 ฿591
$10.23 SEK 102
72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ฿56.3
$2.02 SEK 20.03
-16.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿93.8
$2.52 SEK 24.99
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿28.95
$3.91 SEK 38.82
-77.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.2 ฿1,814
$96.8 SEK 962
-44.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.59
$8.78 SEK 87.2
-86.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 ฿18.03
$1.26 SEK 12.47
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.9
$22.90 SEK 227
-89.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ฿48.98
$1.79 SEK 17.73
-18.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿703.3K
$20.0K SEK 198.4K
5.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿893.4K
$25.5K SEK 253.3K
4.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.1 ฿2,078
$102 SEK 1,016
-39.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.93 ฿433
$26.91 SEK 267
-51.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61 ฿690
$45.14 SEK 448
-54.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.21 ฿1,312
$33.06 SEK 328
18.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$25.57 SEK 254
-85.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 ฿218
$16.40 SEK 163
-60.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 ฿26.9K
$60.2 SEK 598
1234.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿491.9K
$5,015 SEK 49.8K
193.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 ฿1,870
$72.1 SEK 716
-22.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51 ฿854
$51.1 SEK 508
-50.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 ฿3,048
$72.3 SEK 718
26.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$136 SEK 1,354
-46.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.2K
$1,080 SEK 10.7K
-55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,646
$609 SEK 6,052
-52.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ฿29.6K
$1,708 SEK 17.0K
-48.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$523 ฿17.5K
$1,047 SEK 10.4K
-50.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,989 ฿66.6K
$4,144 SEK 41.2K
-52.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,440 ฿48.2K
$2,798 SEK 27.8K
-48.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sundbyberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 ฿20.2K
$2,500 SEK 24.8K
-75.89%
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 21, 2026

Last update for Sundbyberg: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $1,080 in Sundbyberg. 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 315% higher in Sundbyberg, 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 $65.0 in Sundbyberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $402 – 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 Sundbyberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sundbyberg?
Sundbyberg costs about 92% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sundbyberg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,708 in Sundbyberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Sundbyberg?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sundbyberg?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $60.2 in Sundbyberg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Sundbyberg?
Groceries cost about 69% more in Sundbyberg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Sundbyberg?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $942, than in Sundbyberg at $1,805. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundbyberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Sundbyberg?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $1,805 in Sundbyberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sundbyberg?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Sundbyberg?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sundbyberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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