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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,671 in Varberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,673 in Varberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,675 in Varberg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 43% cheaper than Varberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Varberg is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$15.62 SEK 151

-86.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$79.9 SEK 774

-75.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$10.59 SEK 103

-45.33%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.90 SEK 37.85

-53.08%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.23 SEK 11.90

-36.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.12 SEK 10.81

-72.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$6.35 SEK 61.6

-63.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$7.90 SEK 76.6

-53.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.55 SEK 15.04

30.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.07 SEK 29.80

-47.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$3.52 SEK 34.15

-59.66%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$4.33 SEK 41.99

-49.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.25 SEK 128

20.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$11.64 SEK 113

-73.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$20.42 SEK 198

-51.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.19 SEK 30.94

-17.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.60 SEK 25.19

-57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$3.15 SEK 30.58

-48.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.37 SEK 42.33

-64.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.55 SEK 15.02

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.62 SEK 15.66

-30.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.65 SEK 25.72

-72.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.02 SEK 9.91

-50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$7.11 SEK 68.9

-39.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.47 SEK 102

71.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.10 SEK 20.35

-19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.27 SEK 12.29

128.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$2.97 SEK 28.81

-68.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$81.6 SEK 791

-32.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$5.31 SEK 51.5

-76.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.53 SEK 24.50

-79.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$51.5 SEK 499

-95.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.81 SEK 17.53

-20.44%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.3K SEK 332.8K

-38.26%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$35.2K SEK 340.8K

-22.34%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$146 SEK 1,411

-55.40%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$20.72 SEK 201

-35.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$30.78 SEK 298

-32.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$41.70 SEK 404

-3.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$41.46 SEK 402

-90.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$16.46 SEK 160

-59.23%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$159 SEK 1,544

394.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,590 SEK 34.8K

321.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$74.0 SEK 718

-24.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$41.00 SEK 397

-39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$113 SEK 1,093

-17.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$159 SEK 1,544

-52.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$844 SEK 8,185

-42.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$529 SEK 5,130

-45.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,244 SEK 12.1K

-26.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$950 SEK 9,211

-44.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$6,747 SEK 65.4K

-70.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$3,577 SEK 34.7K

-59.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$3,274 SEK 31.7K

-81.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

1.9

193.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Varberg: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $844 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 441% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $80.0 in Varberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $368 – 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 76% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,507 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $159 in Varberg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $950, than in Varberg at $1,671. 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 $950 versus $1,671 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.