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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,814 in Varnamo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,828 in Varnamo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,842 in Varnamo, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Varnamo is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$12.57 SEK 117

-84.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$87.3 SEK 812

-78.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$12.19 SEK 113

-35.03%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$5.05 SEK 46.93

-62.18%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.84 SEK 26.38

-70.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$2.07 SEK 19.28

-83.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$8.00 SEK 74.4

-72.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$7.51 SEK 69.8

-49.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.60 SEK 14.90

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$2.13 SEK 19.83

-23.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.94 SEK 27.34

-59.86%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$4.44 SEK 41.29

-54.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.16 SEK 122

20.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$11.74 SEK 109

-74.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$16.83 SEK 157

-36.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.17 SEK 29.50

-17.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.82 SEK 26.23

-56.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.77 SEK 25.75

-38.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.52 SEK 42.07

-65.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.69 SEK 15.69

-21.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.59 SEK 14.83

-26.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.66 SEK 24.78

-74.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.28 SEK 11.89

-56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$8.20 SEK 76.3

-44.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$12.22 SEK 114

48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.02 SEK 18.80

-9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.25 SEK 20.91

43.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.48 SEK 32.36

-74.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$73.7 SEK 686

-73.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$5.61 SEK 52.2

-75.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.56 SEK 23.77

-47.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$63.8 SEK 593

-87.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.89 SEK 17.61

-32.80%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.7K SEK 303.8K

-35.23%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.1K SEK 316.8K

-33.99%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$123 SEK 1,141

-42.84%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$29.26 SEK 272

-52.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$40.11 SEK 373

-56.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$41.27 SEK 384

0.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$24.88 SEK 231

-73.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$17.70 SEK 165

-67.34%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$179 SEK 1,664

71.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,165 SEK 38.7K

255.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$80.2 SEK 746

-32.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$61.0 SEK 567

-57.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$106 SEK 986

-20.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$127 SEK 1,181

-45.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$833 SEK 7,743

-49.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$663 SEK 6,169

-64.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,377 SEK 12.8K

-40.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,065 SEK 9,902

-51.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$4,394 SEK 40.9K

-53.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$3,014 SEK 28.0K

-49.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$2,169 SEK 20.2K

-70.72%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Varnamo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $833 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 $87.0 in Varnamo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,720 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $179 in Varnamo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $852, than in Varnamo at $1,814. 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 $852 versus $1,814 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.