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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,841 in Varnamo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,819 in Varnamo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,796 in Varnamo, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$12.64 SEK 119

-84.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$88.6 SEK 831

-78.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$11.82 SEK 111

-34.43%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.89 SEK 45.83

-60.74%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.90 SEK 27.24

-72.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.14 SEK 20.08

-83.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$8.11 SEK 76.1

-72.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$7.21 SEK 67.6

-49.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.61 SEK 15.06

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.21 SEK 20.77

-26.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.96 SEK 27.79

-59.80%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$4.44 SEK 41.61

-54.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.09 SEK 123

22.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$11.54 SEK 108

-73.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$17.41 SEK 163

-37.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.17 SEK 29.70

-12.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.89 SEK 27.10

-59.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.82 SEK 26.47

-41.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.31 SEK 40.44

-64.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.67 SEK 15.71

-17.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.58 SEK 14.86

-24.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.64 SEK 24.78

-73.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.28 SEK 12.02

-56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$7.86 SEK 73.7

-41.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$11.90 SEK 112

39.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.94 SEK 18.22

-5.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.22 SEK 20.81

44.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$3.29 SEK 30.82

-73.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$73.2 SEK 687

-74.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$5.66 SEK 53.1

-75.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.57 SEK 24.09

-47.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$62.9 SEK 590

-87.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.95 SEK 18.25

-36.92%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$33.2K SEK 311.5K

-34.89%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.1K SEK 319.6K

-33.82%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$122 SEK 1,143

-42.09%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$28.28 SEK 265

-51.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$41.20 SEK 387

-57.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$40.64 SEK 381

1.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.11 SEK 236

-72.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$17.74 SEK 166

-67.47%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$174 SEK 1,635

76.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$4,125 SEK 38.7K

254.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$78.6 SEK 737

-28.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$60.7 SEK 569

-56.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$104 SEK 977

-17.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$131 SEK 1,225

-44.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$852 SEK 7,988

-49.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$645 SEK 6,047

-62.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,375 SEK 12.9K

-40.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,070 SEK 10.0K

-52.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$4,312 SEK 40.4K

-54.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$3,016 SEK 28.3K

-50.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$2,115 SEK 19.8K

-70.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Varnamo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $852 in Varnamo. 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 242% higher in Varnamo, 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 $89.0 in Varnamo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $355 – 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 Varnamo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varnamo costs about 112% 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 $2,762 in Varnamo. 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 $174 in Varnamo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Varnamo, 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 Varnamo at $1,841. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varnamo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,841 in Varnamo. 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, Varnamo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.