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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,804 in Varberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,844 in Varberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,885 in Varberg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Varberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Varberg is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$13.56 SEK 132

-85.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿630

$82.8 SEK 805

-77.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$10.03 SEK 97.4

-21.83%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.9

$4.14 SEK 40.23

-53.38%

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

$0.83 ฿28.00

$0.97 SEK 9.46

-14.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.80

$0.98 SEK 9.50

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$8.07 SEK 78.3

-72.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$7.78 SEK 75.5

-51.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.57 SEK 15.26

5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$3.05 SEK 29.58

-49.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.79

$3.53 SEK 34.26

-66.57%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$4.33 SEK 42.06

-53.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿544

$12.21 SEK 119

32.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$11.81 SEK 115

-74.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$21.19 SEK 206

-48.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$3.32 SEK 32.21

-19.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.14

$2.93 SEK 28.43

-58.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$3.28 SEK 31.82

-50.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$4.74 SEK 46.05

-67.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.10

$1.62 SEK 15.74

-17.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.86

$1.95 SEK 18.95

-37.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.63

$2.61 SEK 25.34

-73.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.70

$1.15 SEK 11.16

-53.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$7.01 SEK 68.1

-33.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$10.37 SEK 101

70.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$2.07 SEK 20.11

-10.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.25 SEK 12.17

156.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.01

$2.82 SEK 27.38

-68.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$73.0 SEK 709

-74.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.40

$5.12 SEK 49.68

-72.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.52

$2.55 SEK 24.73

-49.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$55.8 SEK 542

-86.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$1.93 SEK 18.78

-33.16%

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

$21.8K ฿733.4K

$32.9K SEK 319.2K

-33.77%

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

$21.7K ฿730.7K

$33.7K SEK 327.0K

-35.57%

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

$70.0 ฿2,358

$157 SEK 1,529

-55.54%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$20.83 SEK 202

-31.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$32.21 SEK 313

-45.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,403

$40.62 SEK 395

2.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

$25.23 SEK 245

-72.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$16.86 SEK 164

-65.72%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$161 SEK 1,564

86.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.2K

$4,058 SEK 39.4K

257.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,865

$88.2 SEK 856

-37.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿886

$41.66 SEK 405

-36.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,858

$101 SEK 978

-15.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$157 SEK 1,521

-54.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$836 SEK 8,120

-49.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,919

$645 SEK 6,267

-63.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$1,380 SEK 13.4K

-41.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$1,103 SEK 10.7K

-53.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$6,638 SEK 64.5K

-70.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$3,652 SEK 35.5K

-60.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$3,197 SEK 31.0K

-81.66%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Varberg: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $836 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 445% 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 $83.0 in Varberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 113% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,707 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 $300 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 54% 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 $847, than in Varberg at $1,804. 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 $847 versus $1,804 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.