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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$13.17 SEK 127
$1.96 ฿65.9
571.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 SEK 652
$18.35 ฿617
267.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.28 SEK 89.7
$7.48 ฿252
24.06%
Cappuccino
$3.94 SEK 38.10
$2.02 ฿67.8
95.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 SEK 14.04
$0.85 ฿28.52
70.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 24.29
$0.36 ฿11.97
597.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 SEK 72.2
$2.14 ฿71.9
249.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 SEK 52.0
$3.59 ฿121
49.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 SEK 14.67
$1.65 ฿55.5
-7.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 SEK 27.24
$1.57 ฿52.7
79.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.00 SEK 38.63
$1.19 ฿40.05
236.13%
Eggs
$3.94 SEK 38.05
$1.94 ฿65.1
103.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 SEK 112
$16.19 ฿545
-28.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.68 SEK 113
$2.99 ฿101
290.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.98 SEK 154
$10.94 ฿368
46.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 SEK 30.03
$2.71 ฿91.2
14.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 SEK 24.46
$1.17 ฿39.27
116.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 SEK 29.36
$1.69 ฿56.8
79.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 SEK 45.24
$1.60 ฿54.0
192.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 SEK 14.48
$1.38 ฿46.56
8.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.56 SEK 15.06
$1.20 ฿40.47
30.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 SEK 21.34
$0.67 ฿22.51
229.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SEK 14.17
$0.56 ฿18.74
162.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16 SEK 69.2
$4.64 ฿156
54.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 SEK 124
$17.62 ฿593
-27.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 SEK 19.55
$1.86 ฿62.6
8.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 SEK 17.30
$3.30 ฿111
-45.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 SEK 28.35
$0.88 ฿29.70
232.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 SEK 630
$19.34 ฿651
237.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.39 SEK 139
$1.36 ฿45.92
958.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 15.36
$1.34 ฿45.00
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.13 SEK 204
$8.21 ฿276
157.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.74
$1.22 ฿41.20
59.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 319.2K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
54.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 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)
$53.1 SEK 513
$70.7 ฿2,378
-24.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35 SEK 274
$14.04 ฿472
101.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07 SEK 358
$17.49 ฿589
111.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.47 SEK 430
$42.15 ฿1,418
5.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19 SEK 234
$6.88 ฿231
251.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.06 SEK 165
$5.92 ฿199
188.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 SEK 1,375
$309 ฿10.4K
-53.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$745 SEK 7,205
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-94.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 SEK 1,002
$55.8 ฿1,876
85.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.05 SEK 204
$26.11 ฿879
-19.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 SEK 807
$83.0 ฿2,793
0.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 SEK 1,498
$70.5 ฿2,371
119.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 SEK 6,813
$432 ฿14.5K
63.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 SEK 6,688
$239 ฿8,040
189.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,146 SEK 11.1K
$822 ฿27.7K
39.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$998 SEK 9,647
$512 ฿17.2K
94.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,021 SEK 29.2K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
57.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,550 SEK 24.6K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
73.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,501 SEK 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.

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