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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,764 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,643 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,523 in Vaxjo, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Vaxjo is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$12.51 SEK 117

-84.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$69.9 SEK 656

-73.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$10.44 SEK 98.1

-25.10%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$4.13 SEK 38.76

-52.78%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.24 SEK 11.68

-31.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.31 SEK 12.29

-73.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$7.49 SEK 70.3

-71.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.82 SEK 64.0

-45.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.80 SEK 16.90

-5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$2.32 SEK 21.81

-29.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$3.94 SEK 37.01

-71.07%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.92 SEK 36.87

-50.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.79 SEK 130

17.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$11.38 SEK 107

-72.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.72 SEK 129

-20.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.69 SEK 34.69

-25.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.69 SEK 25.27

-55.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.56 SEK 14.67

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$4.61 SEK 43.28

-65.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.55 SEK 14.58

-9.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$2.02 SEK 18.93

-42.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$2.76 SEK 25.91

-76.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.63 SEK 15.32

-67.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.13 SEK 67.0

-34.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$10.04 SEK 94.3

85.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.78 SEK 16.72

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.89 SEK 17.74

70.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$3.03 SEK 28.43

-70.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$67.6 SEK 635

-71.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$10.54 SEK 99.0

-86.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$1.65 SEK 15.46

-21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$21.48 SEK 202

-63.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.98 SEK 18.58

-35.86%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.4K SEK 304.0K

-34.26%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$32.2K SEK 302.2K

-30.97%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$88.6 SEK 832

-22.00%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$27.95 SEK 262

-49.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$32.23 SEK 303

-44.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$38.87 SEK 365

5.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.74 SEK 242

-72.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$16.62 SEK 156

-64.38%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$147 SEK 1,380

103.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$752 SEK 7,067

1887.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$106 SEK 999

-48.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$26.54 SEK 249

0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$101 SEK 953

-16.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$143 SEK 1,339

-50.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$845 SEK 7,941

-49.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$678 SEK 6,366

-64.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,571 SEK 14.8K

-48.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$990 SEK 9,296

-47.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,620 SEK 24.6K

-43.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$3,306 SEK 31.1K

-81.32%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vaxjo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $845 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 435% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in Vaxjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $348 – 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 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,646 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $147 in Vaxjo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $866, than in Vaxjo at $1,764. 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 $866 versus $1,764 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.