๐A single person spends $1,706 per month in Mรถlndal vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,617 per month in Mรถlndal vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Mรถlndal vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐Mรถlndal costs about 96% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Mรถlndal sits 27% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.87SEKย 121
$1.98เธฟ64.3
550.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6SEKย 700
$18.80เธฟ612
297.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.68SEKย 100
$7.75เธฟ252
37.81%
Cappuccino
$4.83SEKย 45.31
$1.92เธฟ62.5
151.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09SEKย 28.99
$0.79เธฟ25.79
291.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03SEKย 9.68
$0.36เธฟ11.62
186.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.52SEKย 70.5
$2.21เธฟ72.1
240.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27SEKย 58.8
$3.66เธฟ119
71.31%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20SEKย 11.23
$1.65เธฟ53.8
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57SEKย 14.70
$1.63เธฟ53.2
-3.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEKย 31.29
$1.19เธฟ38.86
180.67%
Eggs
$3.76SEKย 35.27
$2.00เธฟ65.1
88.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.13SEKย 66.9
$15.98เธฟ520
-55.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.28SEKย 87.1
$3.03เธฟ98.5
206.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.70SEKย 147
$10.86เธฟ354
44.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09SEKย 28.99
$2.76เธฟ90.0
11.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEKย 24.74
$1.18เธฟ38.42
123.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89SEKย 27.12
$1.64เธฟ53.5
76.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20SEKย 39.38
$1.52เธฟ49.51
176.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71SEKย 16.03
$1.38เธฟ45.10
23.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93SEKย 18.06
$1.19เธฟ38.84
62.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00SEKย 18.74
$0.70เธฟ22.86
185.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27SEKย 11.93
$0.56เธฟ18.13
126.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.39SEKย 69.3
$4.58เธฟ149
61.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.60SEKย 99.4
$16.56เธฟ539
-35.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEKย 20.04
$1.83เธฟ59.5
16.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60SEKย 24.34
$3.20เธฟ104
-18.75%
๐ Getting Around
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.86SEKย 36.20
$0.88เธฟ28.56
338.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.9SEKย 834
$18.72เธฟ610
374.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.41SEKย 60.1
$1.36เธฟ44.16
371.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEKย 14.95
$1.34เธฟ43.65
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8SEKย 579
$7.84เธฟ256
687.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEKย 18.44
$1.23เธฟ39.92
60.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEKย 299.8K
$21.6Kเธฟ704.3K
47.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSEKย 328.9K
$22.5Kเธฟ734.3K
55.50%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0SEKย 713
$70.5เธฟ2,298
7.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58SEKย 99.2
$13.68เธฟ445
-22.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.01SEKย 197
$17.45เธฟ568
20.40%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.97SEKย 347
$41.33เธฟ1,346
-10.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.32SEKย 284
$6.96เธฟ227
335.63%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13SEKย 170
$5.77เธฟ188
214.21%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172SEKย 1,616
$307เธฟ10.0K
-43.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,086SEKย 38.3K
$14.6Kเธฟ475.9K
-72.03%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3SEKย 838
$55.8เธฟ1,817
60.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.76SEKย 373
$26.21เธฟ854
51.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.9SEKย 703
$85.8เธฟ2,793
-12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEKย 1,437
$72.2เธฟ2,353
112.04%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$850SEKย 7,976
$430เธฟ14.0K
97.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$650SEKย 6,096
$239เธฟ7,774
172.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,393SEKย 13.1K
$817เธฟ26.6K
70.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,093SEKย 10.3K
$511เธฟ16.6K
113.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,290SEKย 40.2K
$1,983เธฟ64.6K
116.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,005SEKย 28.2K
$1,484เธฟ48.3K
102.51%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mรถlndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619เธฟ20.2K
-
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
๐ 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.
๐A 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.