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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Ystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,746 in Ystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,710 in Ystad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Ystad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Ystad is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$11.68 SEK 111

-82.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$91.4 SEK 869

-79.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$10.52 SEK 100.0

-25.29%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.94 SEK 37.43

-48.48%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$3.08 SEK 29.23

-74.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.58 SEK 24.46

-86.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$6.37 SEK 60.5

-66.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$7.84 SEK 74.5

-53.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.70 SEK 16.18

1.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$2.96 SEK 28.14

-46.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$3.22 SEK 30.63

-62.73%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.08 SEK 29.29

-36.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$11.46 SEK 109

41.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$9.72 SEK 92.4

-68.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$18.83 SEK 179

-42.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.18 SEK 30.23

-12.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.74 SEK 26.03

-57.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.00 SEK 28.54

-43.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$4.39 SEK 41.69

-63.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.72 SEK 16.38

-19.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.95 SEK 18.55

-40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$2.22 SEK 21.04

-70.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.54 SEK 14.63

-66.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$7.90 SEK 75.0

-41.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.12 SEK 115

46.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.25 SEK 21.36

-20.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.50 SEK 23.71

33.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$3.46 SEK 32.90

-73.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$73.2 SEK 695

-74.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$10.08 SEK 95.7

-86.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.58 SEK 14.99

-15.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$61.5 SEK 584

-86.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.96 SEK 18.59

-37.24%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$26.1K SEK 247.6K

-17.74%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$30.0K SEK 284.6K

-27.15%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$122 SEK 1,157

-41.43%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$20.76 SEK 197

-32.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$32.02 SEK 304

-44.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$41.08 SEK 390

-0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$24.97 SEK 237

-72.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$12.50 SEK 119

-54.24%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$175 SEK 1,658

76.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$4,121 SEK 39.2K

256.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$53.3 SEK 507

4.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$39.62 SEK 376

-34.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$93.1 SEK 884

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$155 SEK 1,474

-54.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$848 SEK 8,052

-50.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$655 SEK 6,227

-63.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,402 SEK 13.3K

-43.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$1,101 SEK 10.5K

-53.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$4,191 SEK 39.8K

-54.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$2,846 SEK 27.0K

-48.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$1,890 SEK 18.0K

-68.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ystad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $848 in Ystad. 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 218% higher in Ystad, 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 $91.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $355 – 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 Ystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ystad costs about 109% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,673 in Ystad. 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $175 in Ystad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Ystad, 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 $852, than in Ystad at $1,782. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,782 in Ystad. 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, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.