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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,719 in Vasteras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,758 in Vasteras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,797 in Vasteras, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Vasteras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Vasteras is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$14.87 SEK 140

-86.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$68.4 SEK 643

-72.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.38 SEK 97.5

-24.66%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.45 SEK 41.79

-56.18%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$2.83 SEK 26.55

-69.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$2.49 SEK 23.41

-85.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.85 SEK 73.7

-72.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.33 SEK 68.9

-49.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.60 SEK 14.99

6.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.67 SEK 25.04

-38.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.79 SEK 35.57

-69.92%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$4.07 SEK 38.21

-52.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.74 SEK 110

38.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.59 SEK 118

-75.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.73 SEK 148

-30.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.33 SEK 31.27

-17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.59 SEK 24.33

-53.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.59 SEK 33.73

-54.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.79 SEK 35.60

-58.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.55 SEK 14.54

-9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.00 SEK 18.79

-41.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.71 SEK 25.41

-75.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.73 SEK 16.26

-69.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.26 SEK 68.2

-35.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$14.39 SEK 135

29.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.40 SEK 13.18

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.89 SEK 17.73

70.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.45 SEK 32.43

-73.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$73.2 SEK 688

-73.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$3.71 SEK 34.89

-61.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.64 SEK 15.45

-21.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$85.6 SEK 804

-90.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.96 SEK 18.37

-35.20%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.9K SEK 309.0K

-35.32%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.8K SEK 327.2K

-36.24%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$91.0 SEK 855

-24.11%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$29.29 SEK 275

-51.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$36.93 SEK 347

-51.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$36.70 SEK 345

11.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$20.74 SEK 195

-66.44%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$19.27 SEK 181

-69.28%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$156 SEK 1,463

91.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$5,313 SEK 49.9K

181.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$94.1 SEK 884

-41.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$41.89 SEK 393

-36.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$93.6 SEK 879

-9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$125 SEK 1,170

-43.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$824 SEK 7,743

-48.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$591 SEK 5,551

-59.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,480 SEK 13.9K

-45.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$1,124 SEK 10.6K

-54.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,944 SEK 37.0K

-49.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,666 SEK 25.0K

-44.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,207 SEK 30.1K

-80.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.87

2.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $824 in Vasteras. 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 419% higher in Vasteras, 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 $68.0 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $365 – 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 Vasteras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vasteras costs about 98% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,579 in Vasteras. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $156 in Vasteras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Vasteras, 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 $866, than in Vasteras at $1,719. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vasteras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,719 in Vasteras. 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, Vasteras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.