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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,759 in Vasteras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,796 in Vasteras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,833 in Vasteras, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 51% cheaper than Vasteras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Vasteras is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$14.94 SEK 145

-86.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$68.2 SEK 660

-73.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.55 SEK 102

-29.10%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.66 SEK 45.12

-56.65%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.72 SEK 26.32

-68.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.48 SEK 23.97

-85.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.51 SEK 72.7

-71.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.36 SEK 71.3

-51.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.53 SEK 14.77

7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.64 SEK 25.55

-40.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$3.79 SEK 36.69

-68.60%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.89 SEK 37.66

-50.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$12.12 SEK 117

33.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$12.46 SEK 121

-76.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$15.76 SEK 153

-30.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.31 SEK 32.00

-18.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.62 SEK 25.40

-55.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$3.61 SEK 34.98

-53.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.64 SEK 35.26

-56.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.56 SEK 15.06

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.93 SEK 18.72

-37.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.76 SEK 26.76

-75.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.66 SEK 16.09

-66.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.40 SEK 71.6

-37.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.48 SEK 121

41.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.39 SEK 13.48

33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.95 SEK 18.92

69.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$3.32 SEK 32.11

-73.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$73.1 SEK 707

-73.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$3.75 SEK 36.28

-63.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.59 SEK 15.36

-15.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$82.9 SEK 803

-90.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.98 SEK 19.22

-38.38%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.0K SEK 319.3K

-35.26%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$34.0K SEK 329.5K

-33.80%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$88.6 SEK 857

-20.20%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$28.38 SEK 275

-50.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$36.74 SEK 356

-52.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$36.70 SEK 355

14.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$21.36 SEK 207

-67.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$19.33 SEK 187

-69.37%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$157 SEK 1,524

96.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,227 SEK 50.6K

184.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$95.5 SEK 925

-41.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$41.96 SEK 406

-37.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$90.9 SEK 880

-8.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$123 SEK 1,187

-42.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$815 SEK 7,894

-47.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$604 SEK 5,849

-60.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,480 SEK 14.3K

-44.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,133 SEK 11.0K

-54.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,787 SEK 36.7K

-49.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,478 SEK 24.0K

-40.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,016 SEK 29.2K

-80.79%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $815 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 421% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $68.0 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $359 – 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 104% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,638 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $157 in Vasteras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $861, than in Vasteras at $1,759. 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 $861 versus $1,759 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.