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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,776 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,653 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,530 in Sundsvall, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Sundsvall is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$12.51 SEK 118

-84.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$84.4 SEK 793

-77.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.30 SEK 96.7

-24.08%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.41 SEK 41.46

-55.78%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.53 SEK 23.76

-66.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.10 SEK 19.72

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.44 SEK 69.9

-71.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.09 SEK 76.0

-53.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.58 SEK 14.86

8.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$3.31 SEK 31.07

-50.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.74 SEK 35.14

-69.52%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.58 SEK 33.65

-46.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.20 SEK 95.9

58.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$10.35 SEK 97.2

-69.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$18.47 SEK 173

-40.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.90 SEK 27.22

-5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.44 SEK 22.88

-50.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.65 SEK 24.91

-38.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$4.06 SEK 38.09

-60.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.46 SEK 13.76

-4.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.48 SEK 13.87

-20.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.88 SEK 17.67

-64.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.99 SEK 9.32

-46.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.78 SEK 73.1

-39.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.39 SEK 88.2

98.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.64 SEK 15.39

9.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.50 SEK 14.13

115.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.42 SEK 32.17

-73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$86.4 SEK 811

-77.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$6.20 SEK 58.2

-77.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.23 SEK 11.58

4.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$61.1 SEK 574

-87.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.90 SEK 17.85

-33.16%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.5K SEK 249.2K

-19.79%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$27.7K SEK 259.8K

-19.69%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$131 SEK 1,235

-47.46%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$30.18 SEK 283

-53.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$26.01 SEK 244

-30.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$38.55 SEK 362

6.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$26.01 SEK 244

-73.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$14.47 SEK 136

-59.09%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$144 SEK 1,353

107.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$4,148 SEK 39.0K

260.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$93.6 SEK 879

-41.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$30.00 SEK 282

-10.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$75.7 SEK 711

12.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$132 SEK 1,239

-46.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$828 SEK 7,776

-48.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$625 SEK 5,872

-62.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,197 SEK 11.2K

-33.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$890 SEK 8,361

-42.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,598 SEK 24.4K

-24.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,350 SEK 12.7K

9.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,231 SEK 30.4K

-80.89%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sundsvall: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $828 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 423% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $84.0 in Sundsvall. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 105% 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 $2,664 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $144 in Sundsvall. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $866, than in Sundsvall at $1,776. 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 $866 versus $1,776 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.