Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Uddevalla

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,761 in Uddevalla, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Uddevalla, Sweden
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Uddevalla
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Uddevalla

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Uddevalla actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,761 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Uddevalla $1,761

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,728 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Uddevalla $2,728

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,696 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Uddevalla $3,696

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Uddevalla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$13.88 SEK 137
-83.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$80.0 SEK 791
-76.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$11.30 SEK 112
-50.88%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$4.42 SEK 43.65
-62.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.53
$1.40 SEK 13.80
-54.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.30
$1.20 SEK 11.83
-74.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$7.35 SEK 72.7
-67.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$7.48 SEK 74.0
-51.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$1.45 SEK 14.35
34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.45
$2.09 SEK 20.68
-31.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.01
$3.64 SEK 35.98
-63.46%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$3.98 SEK 39.29
-42.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$10.05 SEK 99.3
63.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$12.90 SEK 127
-78.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$10.19 SEK 101
-8.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.18 SEK 31.44
-26.10%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.78
$2.49 SEK 24.60
-61.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$3.78 SEK 37.41
-57.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.46 SEK 44.13
-66.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.10
$2.04 SEK 20.17
-37.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.17
$1.88 SEK 18.54
-41.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.81
$2.20 SEK 21.78
-67.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$1.47 SEK 14.55
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$7.36 SEK 72.8
-43.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$13.73 SEK 136
27.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.40 SEK 13.80
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$2.22 SEK 21.97
25.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$3.73 SEK 36.90
-76.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$77.6 SEK 767
-30.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.03
$3.44 SEK 33.97
-66.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.79
$2.55 SEK 25.24
-79.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$82.0 SEK 810
-97.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.87
$1.82 SEK 17.99
-20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.3K
$33.3K SEK 329.1K
-36.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿908.7K
$33.9K SEK 335.3K
-20.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,097
$180 SEK 1,778
-65.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$9.98 SEK 98.6
21.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$43.87 SEK 434
-54.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$37.16 SEK 367
0.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$26.02 SEK 257
-85.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$11.88 SEK 117
-45.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$153 SEK 1,510
382.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.0K
$5,022 SEK 49.6K
193.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,800
$106 SEK 1,047
-49.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$40.03 SEK 396
-38.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,086
$88.8 SEK 878
3.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,426
$137 SEK 1,356
-47.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$819 SEK 8,101
-41.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$595 SEK 5,882
-48.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$1,353 SEK 13.4K
-25.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,023 SEK 10.1K
-38.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$3,985 SEK 39.4K
-40.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,850 SEK 28.2K
-44.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,786 SEK 27.5K
-78.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.53
57.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Uddevalla: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Uddevalla
$595 92.6% $286
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Uddevalla
$335 42.8% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Uddevalla
$167 54.1% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Uddevalla
$234 148% $139
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Uddevalla
$260 235% $182
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Uddevalla
$109 77.3% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Uddevalla
$61 21.2% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $819 in Uddevalla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Uddevalla are about 4.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $80 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $335 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇪 Uddevalla
🕒 Local time
00:12 12:12 AM
18:12 6:12 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
31,212
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.88 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.03 SEK (100 SEK = 9.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Uddevalla 8,070 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Uddevalla

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Uddevalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Uddevalla?
Uddevalla costs about 88% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Uddevalla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,641 in Uddevalla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Uddevalla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $819 in Uddevalla.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Uddevalla?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $153 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Uddevalla, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Uddevalla?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,761 in Uddevalla. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Uddevalla?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,761 in Uddevalla. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Uddevalla?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Uddevalla?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uddevalla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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