😐A single person spends $1,591 per month in Ludvika vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,645 per month in Ludvika vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,700 per month in Ludvika vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ludvika costs about 88% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ludvika sits 19% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.24SEK 124
$1.96฿63.6
575.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4SEK 640
$18.39฿598
272.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47SEK 98.0
$7.87฿256
33.04%
Cappuccino
$4.56SEK 42.65
$1.95฿63.4
133.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SEK 25.16
$0.85฿27.57
216.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 23.43
$0.32฿10.52
681.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.24SEK 67.8
$2.14฿69.6
238.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.49SEK 70.1
$3.68฿120
103.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 16.83
$1.66฿53.9
8.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70SEK 25.21
$1.56฿50.7
73.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.07SEK 38.09
$1.19฿38.63
242.02%
Eggs
$3.84SEK 35.94
$1.99฿64.7
92.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.88SEK 130
$16.24฿528
-14.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.95SEK 140
$3.17฿103
371.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.70SEK 147
$10.84฿352
44.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62SEK 33.82
$2.65฿86.2
36.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61SEK 24.37
$1.22฿39.67
113.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.88SEK 36.33
$1.65฿53.7
135.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41SEK 41.24
$1.55฿50.3
184.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.09
$1.33฿43.17
13.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05SEK 19.19
$1.21฿39.43
69.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56SEK 23.99
$0.68฿22.04
276.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SEK 14.90
$0.57฿18.38
178.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53SEK 70.5
$4.68฿152
60.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.55SEK 98.7
$16.99฿552
-37.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79SEK 16.70
$1.82฿59.3
-1.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.40
$3.18฿103
-38.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15SEK 29.47
$0.91฿29.46
246.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.0SEK 505
$18.74฿609
188.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.42SEK 135
$1.41฿45.80
922.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 14.75
$1.34฿43.52
17.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.75SEK 194
$8.14฿265
154.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.62
$1.28฿41.53
46.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KSEK 307.7K
$21.8K฿709.3K
50.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KSEK 323.7K
$22.4K฿728.0K
54.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9SEK 832
$70.5฿2,291
26.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.47SEK 201
$14.05฿457
52.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.97SEK 346
$17.65฿574
109.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.25SEK 302
$41.29฿1,342
-21.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.1SEK 487
$6.76฿220
670.12%
Cinema Ticket
$15.70SEK 147
$5.96฿194
163.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,361
$303฿9,846
-51.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$733SEK 6,853
$15.0K฿486.2K
-95.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 975
$54.7฿1,778
90.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.50SEK 407
$26.29฿854
65.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,095
$85.8฿2,788
36.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEK 1,482
$69.7฿2,265
127.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468SEK 4,378
$428฿13.9K
9.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457SEK 4,276
$239฿7,769
91.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$998SEK 9,331
$811฿26.4K
23.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,013SEK 9,478
$510฿16.6K
98.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,025฿65.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,502฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ludvika
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,961SEK 37.0K
$623฿20.2K
536.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ludvika: June 16, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Ludvika 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 536% higher in Ludvika, 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 $68.0 in Ludvika versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $242 – 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
Ludvika vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ludvika or Chiang Mai?
Ludvika costs about 88% 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 Ludvika vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,387 per month in Ludvika and $1,272 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ludvika 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 Ludvika and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Ludvika and $303 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 Ludvika or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Ludvika, 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 Ludvika or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Ludvika at $1,591. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludvika it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ludvika or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,591 in Ludvika. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ludvika 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 Ludvika or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ludvika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.