😐A single person spends $1,637 per month in Mölndal vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,572 per month in Mölndal vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,507 per month in Mölndal vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mölndal costs about 76% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mölndal sits 20% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.60SEK 134
$2.08฿69.5
553.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5SEK 705
$19.61฿655
264.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38SEK 112
$5.67฿189
100.71%
Cappuccino
$5.08SEK 50.1
$1.81฿60.3
180.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SEK 29.18
$0.77฿25.65
284.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06SEK 10.47
$0.35฿11.53
202.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.04SEK 69.4
$2.21฿73.9
218.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.19SEK 61.0
$3.79฿127
63.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21SEK 11.92
$2.05฿68.4
-40.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58SEK 15.53
$1.51฿50.6
4.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.76
$1.40฿46.69
130.00%
Eggs
$3.78SEK 37.25
$2.26฿75.4
67.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11SEK 70.1
$16.19฿540
-56.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.37SEK 92.3
$2.90฿96.7
223.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.65SEK 174
$9.42฿314
87.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19SEK 31.45
$2.68฿89.4
19.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.74
$1.09฿36.37
139.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95SEK 29.08
$1.62฿54.0
82.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 44.53
$1.46฿48.74
209.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.60
$1.28฿42.65
31.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73SEK 17.00
$1.06฿35.31
63.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94SEK 19.13
$0.72฿23.94
169.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24SEK 12.20
$0.53฿17.56
133.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.61SEK 75.0
$4.23฿141
79.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62SEK 105
$18.29฿611
-41.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13SEK 20.98
$1.63฿54.4
30.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 23.17
$2.90฿96.8
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.76SEK 37.08
$0.88฿29.32
327.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.9SEK 856
$53.8฿1,795
61.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.28SEK 61.8
$1.17฿39.14
436.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79SEK 17.67
$0.58฿19.30
208.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0SEK 601
$2.39฿79.6
2453.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.42
$1.45฿48.41
28.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KSEK 337.0K
$21.0K฿701.4K
62.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 343.2K
$26.4K฿882.0K
31.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.46SEK 438
$63.7฿2,125
-30.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52SEK 104
$12.89฿430
-18.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.48SEK 202
$20.52฿685
-0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.31SEK 407
$39.02฿1,302
5.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.52SEK 291
$3.92฿131
653.06%
Cinema Ticket
$18.86SEK 186
$6.58฿220
186.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$231SEK 2,273
$784฿26.2K
-70.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,509SEK 44.4K
$14.7K฿489.8K
-69.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 896
$55.1฿1,840
65.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.20SEK 337
$24.74฿826
38.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.7SEK 707
$94.1฿3,142
-23.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140SEK 1,380
$74.0฿2,469
89.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 8,300
$490฿16.4K
71.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SEK 6,138
$288฿9,620
116.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385SEK 13.6K
$891฿29.8K
55.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053SEK 10.4K
$521฿17.4K
102.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,245SEK 41.8K
$1,974฿65.9K
115.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,939SEK 29.0K
$1,444฿48.2K
103.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
5.57
-45.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mölndal: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $842 in Mölndal versus $490 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 $72.0 in Mölndal versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $241 – 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 76% 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 $2,456 per month in Mölndal and $1,398 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 $231 per month in Mölndal and $784 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 29% 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 $932, than in Mölndal at $1,637. 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 $932 versus $1,637 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.