😐A single person spends $1,653 per month in Mölndal vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,581 per month in Mölndal vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,508 per month in Mölndal vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mölndal costs about 96% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mölndal sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.88SEK 118
$1.95฿62.8
560.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0SEK 681
$18.43฿594
301.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47SEK 96.3
$7.50฿241
39.60%
Cappuccino
$4.78SEK 44.01
$1.93฿62.3
147.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SEK 27.24
$0.78฿25.08
279.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07SEK 9.81
$0.32฿10.42
234.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.17SEK 66.0
$2.15฿69.2
233.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43SEK 59.2
$3.71฿120
73.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23SEK 11.33
$1.71฿55.2
-28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62SEK 14.93
$1.56฿50.3
3.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33SEK 30.60
$1.18฿38.06
182.20%
Eggs
$3.69SEK 33.98
$1.98฿63.9
86.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33SEK 67.5
$16.04฿517
-54.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.66SEK 88.9
$3.17฿102
204.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.01SEK 147
$10.94฿353
46.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.51
$2.63฿84.7
17.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55SEK 23.47
$1.17฿37.61
117.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88SEK 26.51
$1.65฿53.0
74.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38SEK 40.27
$1.54฿49.51
184.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73SEK 15.90
$1.38฿44.34
25.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.31
$1.17฿37.54
60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93SEK 17.72
$0.66฿21.25
192.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25SEK 11.50
$0.51฿16.55
145.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47SEK 68.8
$4.52฿146
65.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.07SEK 102
$18.32฿590
-39.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13SEK 19.57
$1.80฿57.9
18.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 23.59
$3.18฿102
-19.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.71SEK 34.14
$0.90฿28.97
312.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.6SEK 797
$19.00฿612
355.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.53SEK 60.0
$1.41฿45.50
363.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 14.62
$1.31฿42.15
21.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 576
$8.09฿261
673.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.43
$1.28฿41.08
47.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 305.5K
$21.3K฿686.1K
55.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 317.1K
$21.7K฿699.3K
58.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0SEK 699
$69.2฿2,230
9.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58SEK 97.4
$13.97฿450
-24.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.51SEK 198
$17.95฿578
19.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.28SEK 334
$42.31฿1,363
-14.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.58SEK 272
$6.66฿214
344.14%
Cinema Ticket
$17.90SEK 165
$5.92฿191
202.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,637
$299฿9,640
-40.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,098SEK 37.7K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-72.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1SEK 829
$56.2฿1,810
60.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.59SEK 364
$26.94฿868
46.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9SEK 671
$84.9฿2,735
-14.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152SEK 1,402
$71.8฿2,314
112.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$832SEK 7,657
$435฿14.0K
91.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645SEK 5,933
$240฿7,727
168.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEK 12.7K
$798฿25.7K
73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064SEK 9,787
$498฿16.1K
113.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,377SEK 40.3K
$1,995฿64.3K
119.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,080SEK 28.3K
$1,532฿49.4K
101.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
5
-13.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mölndal: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $832 in Mölndal versus $435 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 $74 in Mölndal versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $244 – 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
Mölndal vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mölndal or Chiang Mai?
Mölndal 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 Mölndal vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,480 per month in Mölndal and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mölndal 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 Mölndal and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Mölndal and $299 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 Mölndal or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Mölndal, 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 Mölndal or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Mölndal at $1,653. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mölndal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mölndal or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,653 in Mölndal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mölndal 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 Mölndal or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mölndal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.