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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,695 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,576 in Vaxjo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,457 in Vaxjo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 45% cheaper than Vaxjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Vaxjo is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$13.66 SEK 135

-84.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$65.4 SEK 644

-70.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.30 SEK 101

-44.95%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$4.09 SEK 40.31

-55.75%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.55 SEK 15.24

-50.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.38 SEK 13.62

-74.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$7.25 SEK 71.4

-69.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$6.77 SEK 66.7

-44.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.81 SEK 17.82

13.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.47 SEK 24.36

-38.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$4.07 SEK 40.09

-65.60%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$4.69 SEK 46.21

-51.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.55 SEK 134

19.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$10.88 SEK 107

-73.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.15 SEK 120

-22.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.17 SEK 31.28

-15.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.10 SEK 20.74

-48.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.10 SEK 20.66

-22.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$4.66 SEK 45.89

-68.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.46 SEK 14.38

-12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.63 SEK 16.04

-34.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.38 SEK 23.44

-69.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.41 SEK 13.92

-62.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$7.35 SEK 72.4

-42.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.85 SEK 77.4

132.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.02 SEK 19.88

-19.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.68 SEK 16.56

72.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$3.10 SEK 30.58

-71.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$65.5 SEK 646

-17.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$8.12 SEK 80.0

-85.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.07 SEK 20.42

-71.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$83.2 SEK 820

-97.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.80 SEK 17.70

-19.44%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.4K SEK 339.3K

-38.98%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$33.5K SEK 330.1K

-21.11%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$92.2 SEK 909

-30.98%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$31.17 SEK 307

-58.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$31.30 SEK 308

-34.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$35.43 SEK 349

10.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$20.21 SEK 199

-80.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$16.47 SEK 162

-60.05%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$155 SEK 1,530

404.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$101 SEK 998

-45.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$30.63 SEK 302

-19.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$71.3 SEK 702

32.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$88.5 SEK 872

-16.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$819 SEK 8,075

-40.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$656 SEK 6,464

-56.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$1,528 SEK 15.1K

-41.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$967 SEK 9,527

-46.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$2,500 SEK 24.6K

-42.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$3,260 SEK 32.1K

-81.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.2

74.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Vaxjo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $819 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 442% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $65.0 in Vaxjo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $333 – 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 82% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,543 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $155 in Vaxjo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $932, than in Vaxjo at $1,695. 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 $932 versus $1,695 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.