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 $1,718 in Ystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,721 in Ystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,725 in Ystad, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Ystad is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.41 SEK 106

-82.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$91.5 SEK 851

-79.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$10.39 SEK 96.7

-23.77%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.96 SEK 36.80

-51.77%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$3.10 SEK 28.87

-72.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$2.61 SEK 24.29

-86.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$6.41 SEK 59.6

-65.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$7.80 SEK 72.6

-51.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.74 SEK 16.20

-5.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$2.90 SEK 26.97

-44.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.33 SEK 31.00

-64.56%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.07 SEK 28.55

-34.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.71 SEK 109

35.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$9.47 SEK 88.1

-68.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$18.82 SEK 175

-42.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.02 SEK 28.08

-13.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.77 SEK 25.76

-55.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.97 SEK 27.66

-42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.24 SEK 39.45

-62.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.75 SEK 16.29

-24.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.85 SEK 17.25

-36.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.29 SEK 21.25

-70.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.61 SEK 14.93

-65.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.84 SEK 72.9

-42.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$11.86 SEK 110

53.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.22 SEK 20.65

-17.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.53 SEK 23.53

27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.36 SEK 31.24

-73.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$75.0 SEK 697

-74.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$10.10 SEK 93.9

-86.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.59 SEK 14.76

-15.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$63.4 SEK 589

-86.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.89 SEK 17.55

-32.80%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$26.3K SEK 244.5K

-19.55%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$30.3K SEK 281.8K

-25.80%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$123 SEK 1,141

-42.82%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$20.71 SEK 193

-33.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$32.03 SEK 298

-45.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$41.24 SEK 384

0.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$25.56 SEK 238

-74.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$12.53 SEK 117

-53.87%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$177 SEK 1,646

72.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,148 SEK 38.6K

257.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$52.9 SEK 492

2.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.47 SEK 367

-33.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$94.0 SEK 874

-10.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$156 SEK 1,451

-55.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$852 SEK 7,921

-50.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$658 SEK 6,124

-63.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,418 SEK 13.2K

-41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,071 SEK 9,957

-51.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$4,423 SEK 41.1K

-53.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$3,203 SEK 29.8K

-52.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,996 SEK 18.6K

-68.18%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ystad: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $852 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 214% 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 $92.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $353 – 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 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,577 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 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 $1,718. 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 $1,718 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.