😐A single person spends $1,679 per month in Mölndal vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,593 per month in Mölndal vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,507 per month in Mölndal vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mölndal costs about 97% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mölndal sits 26% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.62SEK 122
$2.04฿68.4
518.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0SEK 703
$18.71฿626
289.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.46SEK 101
$7.86฿263
33.08%
Cappuccino
$5.00SEK 48.25
$2.03฿67.9
146.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05SEK 29.42
$0.80฿26.71
281.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04SEK 9.98
$0.35฿11.71
197.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.23SEK 69.7
$2.14฿71.7
237.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22SEK 60.0
$3.67฿123
69.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25SEK 12.01
$1.73฿57.8
-27.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56SEK 15.08
$1.57฿52.5
-0.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.19SEK 30.72
$1.20฿40.10
165.83%
Eggs
$3.77SEK 36.35
$1.97฿66.0
91.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23SEK 69.7
$16.23฿543
-55.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.62SEK 92.8
$3.06฿102
214.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98SEK 154
$10.80฿361
47.96%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 30.24
$2.77฿92.6
13.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.10
$1.17฿39.05
122.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88SEK 27.73
$1.71฿57.1
68.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24SEK 40.92
$1.59฿53.3
166.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.85
$1.39฿46.63
17.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89SEK 18.19
$1.16฿38.67
62.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97SEK 18.97
$0.66฿22.11
198.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23SEK 11.85
$0.52฿17.35
136.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54SEK 72.7
$4.65฿155
62.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19SEK 98.2
$17.78฿595
-42.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 20.94
$1.79฿59.8
21.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57SEK 24.79
$3.34฿112
-23.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.77SEK 36.32
$0.91฿30.35
314.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 854
$18.64฿624
375.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.68SEK 64.4
$1.41฿47.17
373.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.85
$1.34฿44.82
22.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2SEK 590
$8.11฿271
654.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 18.17
$1.23฿41.27
52.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 313.0K
$21.4K฿717.0K
51.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 337.9K
$21.8K฿730.0K
60.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.4SEK 737
$71.3฿2,386
7.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.67SEK 103
$14.01฿469
-23.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.12SEK 204
$17.93฿600
17.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.31SEK 350
$40.82฿1,365
-11.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.45SEK 284
$6.88฿230
328.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.66SEK 170
$5.72฿191
208.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179SEK 1,721
$308฿10.3K
-42.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,077SEK 39.3K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-72.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2SEK 860
$55.8฿1,865
59.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.99SEK 386
$26.04฿871
53.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0SEK 703
$84.8฿2,837
-13.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,504
$71.0฿2,375
119.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851SEK 8,201
$423฿14.2K
100.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$649SEK 6,256
$242฿8,110
167.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,372SEK 13.2K
$797฿26.7K
72.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,090SEK 10.5K
$507฿17.0K
115.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,122SEK 39.7K
$1,918฿64.2K
114.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,901SEK 28.0K
$1,464฿49.0K
98.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $851 in Mölndal versus $423 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 $73.0 in Mölndal versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 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 97% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,518 per month in Mölndal and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Mölndal and $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Mölndal at $1,679. 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 $852 versus $1,679 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 to 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.