😐A single person spends $1,727 per month in Karlskrona vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,601 per month in Karlskrona vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,475 per month in Karlskrona vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Karlskrona costs about 101% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Karlskrona sits 29% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.17SEK 127
$1.96฿65.9
571.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5SEK 652
$18.35฿617
267.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28SEK 89.7
$7.48฿252
24.06%
Cappuccino
$3.94SEK 38.10
$2.02฿67.8
95.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 14.04
$0.85฿28.52
70.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 24.29
$0.36฿11.97
597.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47SEK 72.2
$2.14฿71.9
249.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38SEK 52.0
$3.59฿121
49.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.67
$1.65฿55.5
-7.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82SEK 27.24
$1.57฿52.7
79.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00SEK 38.63
$1.19฿40.05
236.13%
Eggs
$3.94SEK 38.05
$1.94฿65.1
103.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60SEK 112
$16.19฿545
-28.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68SEK 113
$2.99฿101
290.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98SEK 154
$10.94฿368
46.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11SEK 30.03
$2.71฿91.2
14.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.46
$1.17฿39.27
116.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 29.36
$1.69฿56.8
79.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68SEK 45.24
$1.60฿54.0
192.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.48
$1.38฿46.56
8.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.06
$1.20฿40.47
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 21.34
$0.67฿22.51
229.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.17
$0.56฿18.74
162.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16SEK 69.2
$4.64฿156
54.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 124
$17.62฿593
-27.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.55
$1.86฿62.6
8.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79SEK 17.30
$3.30฿111
-45.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93SEK 28.35
$0.88฿29.70
232.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2SEK 630
$19.34฿651
237.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39SEK 139
$1.36฿45.92
958.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.36
$1.34฿45.00
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.13SEK 204
$8.21฿276
157.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.74
$1.22฿41.20
59.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.2K
$21.4K฿718.5K
54.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 333.4K
$22.5K฿758.1K
53.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.1SEK 513
$70.7฿2,378
-24.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35SEK 274
$14.04฿472
101.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07SEK 358
$17.49฿589
111.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.47SEK 430
$42.15฿1,418
5.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19SEK 234
$6.88฿231
251.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.06SEK 165
$5.92฿199
188.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,375
$309฿10.4K
-53.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$745SEK 7,205
$14.9K฿500.7K
-94.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 1,002
$55.8฿1,876
85.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.05SEK 204
$26.11฿879
-19.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5SEK 807
$83.0฿2,793
0.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,498
$70.5฿2,371
119.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705SEK 6,813
$432฿14.5K
63.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692SEK 6,688
$239฿8,040
189.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,146SEK 11.1K
$822฿27.7K
39.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998SEK 9,647
$512฿17.2K
94.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,021SEK 29.2K
$1,915฿64.4K
57.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,550SEK 24.6K
$1,467฿49.4K
73.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,501SEK 24.2K
$579฿19.5K
331.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
5
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Karlskrona versus $432 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 332% higher in Karlskrona, 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 $67.0 in Karlskrona versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $243 – 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
Karlskrona vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karlskrona or Chiang Mai?
Karlskrona costs about 101% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Karlskrona and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,591 per month in Karlskrona and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Karlskrona or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Karlskrona and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $142 per month in Karlskrona and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Karlskrona or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Karlskrona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Karlskrona or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Karlskrona at $1,727. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karlskrona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Karlskrona or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,727 in Karlskrona. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Karlskrona compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Karlskrona or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karlskrona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared