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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,756 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,619 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,482 in Sundsvall, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Sundsvall is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$12.87 SEK 125

-84.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$85.3 SEK 826

-78.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.42 SEK 101

-28.21%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.54 SEK 43.91

-55.51%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.46 SEK 23.78

-65.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.05 SEK 19.89

-82.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.82 SEK 75.7

-72.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$8.15 SEK 78.9

-55.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.57 SEK 15.23

5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$3.34 SEK 32.38

-52.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.82 SEK 36.95

-68.85%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.73 SEK 36.09

-47.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$10.14 SEK 98.1

59.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$10.31 SEK 99.8

-71.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$18.41 SEK 178

-40.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.84 SEK 27.47

-4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.44 SEK 23.64

-52.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.57 SEK 24.91

-34.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$4.06 SEK 39.32

-60.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.51 SEK 14.66

-8.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.42 SEK 13.78

-15.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.88 SEK 18.19

-64.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.03 SEK 10.01

-45.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.70 SEK 74.5

-39.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.27 SEK 89.8

90.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.64 SEK 15.93

13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.56 SEK 15.10

111.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$3.36 SEK 32.52

-73.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$85.8 SEK 831

-77.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$6.45 SEK 62.5

-78.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.22 SEK 11.84

9.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$63.1 SEK 611

-86.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.90 SEK 18.39

-35.79%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$26.7K SEK 258.7K

-20.07%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$26.9K SEK 260.8K

-16.36%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$132 SEK 1,273

-46.26%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$29.93 SEK 290

-53.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$25.77 SEK 250

-32.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$37.95 SEK 367

11.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$26.04 SEK 252

-73.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$14.75 SEK 143

-59.86%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$145 SEK 1,404

112.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,164 SEK 40.3K

257.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$94.0 SEK 910

-40.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$30.77 SEK 298

-15.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$77.5 SEK 750

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$131 SEK 1,266

-46.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$837 SEK 8,105

-48.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$634 SEK 6,140

-62.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,191 SEK 11.5K

-30.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$869 SEK 8,413

-41.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,466 SEK 23.9K

-22.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,293 SEK 12.5K

13.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,018 SEK 29.2K

-80.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

11.61%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sundsvall: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $837 in Sundsvall. 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 421% higher in Sundsvall, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $85.0 in Sundsvall. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $333 – 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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sundsvall costs about 104% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,634 in Sundsvall. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Sundsvall. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Sundsvall, 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 $861, than in Sundsvall at $1,756. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,756 in Sundsvall. 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, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.