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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,706 per month in Mรถlndal vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,617 per month in Mรถlndal vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Mรถlndal vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mรถlndal costs about 96% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mรถlndal sits 27% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.87 SEKย 121
$1.98 เธฟ64.3
550.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 SEKย 700
$18.80 เธฟ612
297.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.68 SEKย 100
$7.75 เธฟ252
37.81%
Cappuccino
$4.83 SEKย 45.31
$1.92 เธฟ62.5
151.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 SEKย 28.99
$0.79 เธฟ25.79
291.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 SEKย 9.68
$0.36 เธฟ11.62
186.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.52 SEKย 70.5
$2.21 เธฟ72.1
240.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27 SEKย 58.8
$3.66 เธฟ119
71.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 SEKย 11.23
$1.65 เธฟ53.8
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 SEKย 14.70
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
-3.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 SEKย 31.29
$1.19 เธฟ38.86
180.67%
Eggs
$3.76 SEKย 35.27
$2.00 เธฟ65.1
88.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 SEKย 66.9
$15.98 เธฟ520
-55.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.28 SEKย 87.1
$3.03 เธฟ98.5
206.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.70 SEKย 147
$10.86 เธฟ354
44.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 SEKย 28.99
$2.76 เธฟ90.0
11.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 SEKย 24.74
$1.18 เธฟ38.42
123.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 SEKย 27.12
$1.64 เธฟ53.5
76.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.20 SEKย 39.38
$1.52 เธฟ49.51
176.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 SEKย 16.03
$1.38 เธฟ45.10
23.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 SEKย 18.06
$1.19 เธฟ38.84
62.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 SEKย 18.74
$0.70 เธฟ22.86
185.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEKย 11.93
$0.56 เธฟ18.13
126.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.39 SEKย 69.3
$4.58 เธฟ149
61.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 SEKย 99.4
$16.56 เธฟ539
-35.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 SEKย 20.04
$1.83 เธฟ59.5
16.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 SEKย 24.34
$3.20 เธฟ104
-18.75%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.86 SEKย 36.20
$0.88 เธฟ28.56
338.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.9 SEKย 834
$18.72 เธฟ610
374.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.41 SEKย 60.1
$1.36 เธฟ44.16
371.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEKย 14.95
$1.34 เธฟ43.65
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.8 SEKย 579
$7.84 เธฟ256
687.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 SEKย 18.44
$1.23 เธฟ39.92
60.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEKย 299.8K
$21.6K เธฟ704.3K
47.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K SEKย 328.9K
$22.5K เธฟ734.3K
55.50%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 SEKย 713
$70.5 เธฟ2,298
7.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58 SEKย 99.2
$13.68 เธฟ445
-22.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.01 SEKย 197
$17.45 เธฟ568
20.40%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.97 SEKย 347
$41.33 เธฟ1,346
-10.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.32 SEKย 284
$6.96 เธฟ227
335.63%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13 SEKย 170
$5.77 เธฟ188
214.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 SEKย 1,616
$307 เธฟ10.0K
-43.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,086 SEKย 38.3K
$14.6K เธฟ475.9K
-72.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 SEKย 838
$55.8 เธฟ1,817
60.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.76 SEKย 373
$26.21 เธฟ854
51.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 SEKย 703
$85.8 เธฟ2,793
-12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 SEKย 1,437
$72.2 เธฟ2,353
112.04%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 SEKย 7,976
$430 เธฟ14.0K
97.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 SEKย 6,096
$239 เธฟ7,774
172.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 SEKย 13.1K
$817 เธฟ26.6K
70.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 SEKย 10.3K
$511 เธฟ16.6K
113.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,290 SEKย 40.2K
$1,983 เธฟ64.6K
116.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,005 SEKย 28.2K
$1,484 เธฟ48.3K
102.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$619 เธฟ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.33
5
-13.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mรถlndal: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $850 in Mรถlndal versus $430 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Mรถlndal versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $241 โ€“ 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
Mรถlndal vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mรถlndal or Chiang Mai?
Mรถlndal costs about 96% 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 Mรถlndal vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,560 per month in Mรถlndal and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mรถlndal 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 Mรถlndal and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $172 per month in Mรถlndal and $307 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 Mรถlndal or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Mรถlndal, 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 Mรถlndal or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Mรถlndal at $1,706. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mรถlndal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mรถlndal or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,706 in Mรถlndal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mรถlndal 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 โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mรถlndal or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mรถlndal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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