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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,737 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,640 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,544 in Vaxjo, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Vaxjo is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$12.59 SEK 122

-84.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$68.0 SEK 658

-73.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.54 SEK 102

-29.03%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.04 SEK 39.07

-50.00%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.27 SEK 12.32

-33.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.29 SEK 12.53

-72.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$7.32 SEK 70.9

-70.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.00 SEK 67.8

-48.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.77 SEK 17.14

-6.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.37 SEK 22.96

-33.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$4.06 SEK 39.31

-70.69%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$4.02 SEK 38.95

-51.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$13.82 SEK 134

17.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$11.58 SEK 112

-74.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.82 SEK 134

-20.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.52 SEK 34.13

-23.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.69 SEK 26.07

-56.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.55 SEK 14.97

9.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$4.67 SEK 45.25

-65.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.57 SEK 15.18

-12.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.02 SEK 19.60

-40.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.78 SEK 26.94

-75.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.69 SEK 16.37

-66.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.17 SEK 69.4

-35.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.43 SEK 91.3

86.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.71 SEK 16.57

8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.95 SEK 18.89

69.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$3.11 SEK 30.11

-71.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$67.3 SEK 652

-71.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$10.64 SEK 103

-87.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.60 SEK 15.46

-16.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$21.41 SEK 207

-61.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.97 SEK 19.11

-38.07%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$32.6K SEK 315.5K

-34.47%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$31.1K SEK 301.1K

-27.55%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$91.5 SEK 886

-22.73%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$27.97 SEK 271

-49.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$32.21 SEK 312

-45.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$39.24 SEK 380

7.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.72 SEK 249

-73.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$16.85 SEK 163

-64.87%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$146 SEK 1,415

111.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$731 SEK 7,076

1935.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$107 SEK 1,035

-47.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$25.93 SEK 251

0.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$101 SEK 976

-17.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$142 SEK 1,379

-50.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$839 SEK 8,121

-48.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$680 SEK 6,583

-64.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,593 SEK 15.4K

-48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$991 SEK 9,599

-48.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$2,516 SEK 24.4K

-41.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,239 SEK 31.4K

-82.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vaxjo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $839 in Vaxjo. 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 459% higher in Vaxjo, 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 Vaxjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $349 – 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 Vaxjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vaxjo costs about 102% 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 $2,605 in Vaxjo. 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 $146 in Vaxjo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Vaxjo, 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 Vaxjo at $1,737. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaxjo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,737 in Vaxjo. 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, Vaxjo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.