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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,058 per month in Gothenburg vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,193 per month in Gothenburg vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,328 per month in Gothenburg vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gothenburg costs about 138% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Gothenburg sits 54% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.74 SEK 129

$1.94 ฿63.5

608.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.9 SEK 880

$18.64 ฿609

403.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 SEK 97.0

$7.82 ฿255

32.23%

Cappuccino

$4.73 SEK 44.40

$1.95 ฿63.8

142.56%

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

$2.97 SEK 27.84

$0.85 ฿27.77

249.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SEK 23.76

$0.35 ฿11.58

622.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.26 SEK 68.1

$2.13 ฿69.6

240.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 SEK 72.4

$3.73 ฿122

106.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SEK 15.75

$1.71 ฿56.0

-1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 SEK 26.75

$1.63 ฿53.2

74.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 SEK 31.11

$1.14 ฿37.15

191.23%

Eggs

$4.65 SEK 43.63

$1.93 ฿63.1

140.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 SEK 111

$16.21 ฿530

-27.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 SEK 118

$3.12 ฿102

304.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 SEK 178

$10.90 ฿356

74.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 SEK 29.07

$2.75 ฿90.0

12.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 SEK 25.67

$1.21 ฿39.52

126.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 SEK 27.25

$1.62 ฿53.0

79.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 SEK 39.16

$1.59 ฿51.8

162.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 SEK 15.58

$1.40 ฿45.70

18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 SEK 17.34

$1.17 ฿38.17

58.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 SEK 21.33

$0.66 ฿21.60

243.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 SEK 14.53

$0.53 ฿17.22

192.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.82 SEK 73.3

$4.69 ฿153

66.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.32 SEK 144

$18.66 ฿609

-17.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 SEK 21.19

$1.80 ฿58.8

25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 SEK 24.45

$3.23 ฿106

-19.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.80 SEK 35.63

$0.90 ฿29.26

322.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 SEK 831

$19.21 ฿628

361.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 SEK 94.8

$1.41 ฿45.91

617.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 SEK 15.56

$1.29 ฿42.12

28.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.7 SEK 579

$7.84 ฿256

687.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 SEK 17.73

$1.27 ฿41.58

48.82%

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

$32.0K SEK 300.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

50.54%

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

$34.5K SEK 323.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

55.18%

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

$138 SEK 1,299

$69.1 ฿2,256

100.46%

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

$24.95 SEK 234

$14.08 ฿460

77.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.25 SEK 359

$18.00 ฿588

112.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 SEK 392

$41.06 ฿1,341

1.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.26 SEK 237

$6.96 ฿227

262.93%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 SEK 169

$5.92 ฿193

203.72%

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

$175 SEK 1,646

$299 ฿9,766

-41.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,215 SEK 39.5K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-71.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 SEK 822

$54.7 ฿1,787

60.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 SEK 378

$26.77 ฿874

50.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 SEK 909

$85.0 ฿2,776

13.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 SEK 1,466

$70.6 ฿2,306

121.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,125 SEK 10.6K

$428 ฿14.0K

162.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 SEK 8,190

$237 ฿7,752

267.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 SEK 18.0K

$801 ฿26.2K

139.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 SEK 13.4K

$515 ฿16.8K

178.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,696 SEK 62.8K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

239.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,764 SEK 35.3K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

155.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,953 SEK 37.1K

$617 ฿20.2K

540.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

-13.40%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 540% higher in Gothenburg, 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 $94.0 in Gothenburg versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $246 – 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

Gothenburg vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gothenburg costs about 138% 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 $3,087 per month in Gothenburg and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. 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 $175 per month in Gothenburg and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg at $2,058. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gothenburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,058 in Gothenburg. 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, Gothenburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.