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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,810 in Varberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,840 in Varberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,870 in Varberg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Varberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$13.96 SEK 132

-85.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$84.2 SEK 799

-77.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$9.95 SEK 94.4

-22.11%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$4.23 SEK 40.12

-54.61%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$0.92 SEK 8.74

-14.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.91 SEK 8.68

-60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$7.79 SEK 73.8

-71.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$8.08 SEK 76.7

-54.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$1.52 SEK 14.40

8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$3.12 SEK 29.59

-47.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$3.51 SEK 33.27

-66.10%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$4.41 SEK 41.83

-54.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$12.15 SEK 115

31.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$11.51 SEK 109

-73.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$20.97 SEK 199

-48.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$3.39 SEK 32.10

-18.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$2.90 SEK 27.48

-59.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$3.29 SEK 31.23

-50.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$4.98 SEK 47.19

-69.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$1.55 SEK 14.74

-10.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$1.89 SEK 17.96

-37.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$2.49 SEK 23.64

-71.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.18 SEK 11.22

-52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$7.35 SEK 69.7

-37.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$10.61 SEK 101

56.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$2.07 SEK 19.62

-11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.26 SEK 11.92

153.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$2.93 SEK 27.77

-69.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$74.8 SEK 709

-74.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$5.24 SEK 49.69

-74.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$2.65 SEK 25.14

-49.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$56.3 SEK 534

-86.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.99 SEK 18.91

-38.19%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$32.3K SEK 305.8K

-32.96%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$34.3K SEK 325.0K

-34.22%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$157 SEK 1,491

-55.15%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$21.27 SEK 202

-35.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$31.22 SEK 296

-44.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$41.03 SEK 389

0.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$25.33 SEK 240

-72.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$16.62 SEK 158

-65.28%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$161 SEK 1,526

90.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$4,144 SEK 39.3K

252.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$90.2 SEK 855

-38.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$42.45 SEK 402

-38.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$98.2 SEK 931

-12.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$155 SEK 1,474

-53.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$834 SEK 7,911

-48.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$653 SEK 6,195

-63.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$1,413 SEK 13.4K

-42.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$1,093 SEK 10.4K

-53.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$6,916 SEK 65.6K

-71.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$3,720 SEK 35.3K

-60.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$3,323 SEK 31.5K

-81.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.9

163.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Varberg: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $834 in Varberg. 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 437% higher in Varberg, 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 Varberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $374 – 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 Varberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varberg costs about 108% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,715 in Varberg. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Varberg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Varberg, 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 $869, than in Varberg at $1,810. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,810 in Varberg. 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, Varberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.