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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,732 in Ystad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,721 in Ystad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,709 in Ystad, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$11.78 SEK 110

-83.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$93.0 SEK 870

-80.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$10.72 SEK 100

-26.59%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$4.16 SEK 38.92

-53.13%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$3.02 SEK 28.21

-71.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$2.57 SEK 24.01

-87.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$6.23 SEK 58.3

-65.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$7.75 SEK 72.5

-52.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.69 SEK 15.78

-1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$2.89 SEK 27.03

-46.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$3.27 SEK 30.56

-63.61%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$3.20 SEK 29.90

-37.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$11.81 SEK 110

37.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$9.68 SEK 90.6

-67.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$18.73 SEK 175

-42.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$3.17 SEK 29.62

-16.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$2.76 SEK 25.77

-55.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$3.04 SEK 28.48

-45.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$4.34 SEK 40.63

-64.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.73 SEK 16.22

-23.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.93 SEK 18.10

-37.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$2.22 SEK 20.75

-69.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$1.61 SEK 15.03

-64.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$8.14 SEK 76.2

-42.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$12.85 SEK 120

32.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$2.18 SEK 20.42

-16.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.51 SEK 23.52

26.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$3.36 SEK 31.46

-72.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$73.0 SEK 683

-74.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$10.22 SEK 95.6

-86.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$1.66 SEK 15.51

-19.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$61.8 SEK 578

-86.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.89 SEK 17.66

-32.28%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$25.7K SEK 240.7K

-15.17%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$29.6K SEK 277.1K

-24.37%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$123 SEK 1,146

-42.47%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$21.34 SEK 200

-34.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$32.03 SEK 300

-44.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$40.41 SEK 378

2.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$25.09 SEK 235

-73.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$12.90 SEK 121

-53.80%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$173 SEK 1,618

75.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$4,208 SEK 39.4K

255.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$53.2 SEK 498

2.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$39.09 SEK 366

-32.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$95.9 SEK 897

-10.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$155 SEK 1,452

-55.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$831 SEK 7,776

-48.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$643 SEK 6,017

-62.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$1,403 SEK 13.1K

-42.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$1,096 SEK 10.3K

-53.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$4,236 SEK 39.6K

-52.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$2,988 SEK 28.0K

-49.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$1,928 SEK 18.0K

-67.72%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ystad: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $831 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 210% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $93.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $357 – 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 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,598 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $173 in Ystad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $848, than in Ystad at $1,732. 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 $848 versus $1,732 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.