Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Skelleftea and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,985 in Skelleftea, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Skelleftea, Sweden
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Skelleftea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,985
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Skelleftea and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Skelleftea and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,985 per month in Skelleftea vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Skelleftea $1,985
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $3,004 per month in Skelleftea vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Skelleftea $3,004
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $4,022 per month in Skelleftea vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Skelleftea $4,022
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Skelleftea costs about 112% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Skelleftea sits 46% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.15 SEK 159
$2.24 ฿75.6
620.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 SEK 797
$19.00 ฿641
327.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.15 SEK 129
$5.55 ฿187
136.94%
Cappuccino
$4.66 SEK 45.70
$1.67 ฿56.5
179.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 25.24
$0.64 ฿21.54
301.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 SEK 22.72
$0.31 ฿10.31
648.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.25 SEK 81.0
$2.36 ฿79.5
249.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 SEK 79.1
$3.66 ฿124
120.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 SEK 15.50
$1.95 ฿65.7
-18.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 SEK 25.35
$1.44 ฿48.46
79.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.81 SEK 47.20
$1.33 ฿45.03
261.65%
Eggs
$5.23 SEK 51.3
$2.28 ฿77.1
129.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.26 SEK 111
$16.45 ฿555
-31.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.82 SEK 106
$2.78 ฿93.9
289.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.52 SEK 241
$9.31 ฿314
163.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 SEK 32.64
$2.35 ฿79.4
41.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 SEK 23.45
$0.97 ฿32.79
146.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 31.67
$1.60 ฿53.9
101.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.63 SEK 35.63
$1.50 ฿50.6
142.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 SEK 22.37
$1.28 ฿43.11
78.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 SEK 15.92
$1.10 ฿37.18
47.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 SEK 21.69
$0.71 ฿23.82
211.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 SEK 14.88
$0.49 ฿16.36
210.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.24 SEK 71.0
$4.14 ฿140
74.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 SEK 148
$17.52 ฿591
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 SEK 17.58
$1.61 ฿54.5
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 SEK 16.47
$2.78 ฿93.9
-39.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 SEK 28.36
$0.87 ฿29.30
232.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.5 SEK 515
$54.1 ฿1,825
-3.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.23 SEK 80.8
$1.16 ฿39.04
609.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 SEK 16.87
$0.53 ฿17.80
224.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.7 SEK 585
$2.42 ฿81.7
2364.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 17.25
$1.45 ฿48.88
21.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K SEK 321.4K
$21.1K ฿710.5K
55.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K SEK 315.1K
$26.9K ฿909.0K
19.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SEK 1,038
$62.2 ฿2,098
70.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.42 SEK 249
$12.17 ฿411
108.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9 SEK 499
$20.12 ฿679
152.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.99 SEK 373
$37.31 ฿1,259
1.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.32 SEK 258
$3.77 ฿127
598.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 SEK 145
$6.49 ฿219
128.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$145 SEK 1,423
$736 ฿24.8K
-80.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,606 SEK 55.0K
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-62.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 SEK 941
$53.4 ฿1,801
79.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.55 SEK 388
$24.64 ฿831
60.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 SEK 799
$91.5 ฿3,087
-10.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 SEK 1,517
$71.9 ฿2,427
114.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 SEK 11.5K
$482 ฿16.3K
143.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$801 SEK 7,860
$309 ฿10.4K
159.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 SEK 15.5K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
56.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 SEK 12.0K
$633 ฿21.4K
92.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 SEK 39.4K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
69.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,789 SEK 27.4K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
75.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skelleftea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,595 SEK 25.5K
$590 ฿19.9K
340.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
5.57
-29.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Skelleftea: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Skelleftea
$801
Chiang Mai
$309 61.4% $492
Groceries & Markets
Skelleftea
$385
Chiang Mai
$234 39.1% $151
Eating Out
Skelleftea
$301
Chiang Mai
$78 74.3% $224
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skelleftea
$182
Chiang Mai
$94 48.1% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Skelleftea
$167
Chiang Mai
$109 35% $59
Getting Around
Skelleftea
$81
Chiang Mai
$61 24.1% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Skelleftea
$68
Chiang Mai
$50 25.6% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,176 in Skelleftea versus $482 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.

Salaries in Skelleftea are about 4.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Skelleftea versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Skelleftea
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
20:22 8:22 PM
02:22 2:22 AM
6 h ahead of Skelleftea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
32,775
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Skelleftea Chiang Mai 7,560 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Skelleftea
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Skelleftea vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Skelleftea or Chiang Mai?
Skelleftea costs about 112% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Skelleftea and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,978 per month in Skelleftea and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Skelleftea or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,176 in Skelleftea.
How do childcare costs compare in Skelleftea and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Skelleftea and $736 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 Skelleftea or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Skelleftea, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Skelleftea or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,985 in Skelleftea and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Skelleftea or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,985 in Skelleftea. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Skelleftea compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Skelleftea or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skelleftea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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