Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sundsvall and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $1,696 in Sundsvall, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sundsvall
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,696
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,696 per month in Sundsvall vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $1,696
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $2,576 per month in Sundsvall vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $2,576
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $3,455 per month in Sundsvall vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $3,455
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Sundsvall costs about 81% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Sundsvall sits 26% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86 SEK 147
$2.26 ฿75.4
557.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 SEK 790
$19.18 ฿641
315.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 SEK 108
$5.59 ฿187
95.71%
Cappuccino
$4.72 SEK 46.78
$1.72 ฿57.6
174.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 SEK 24.18
$0.64 ฿21.54
281.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SEK 18.22
$0.33 ฿11.18
457.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.43 SEK 83.5
$2.36 ฿78.7
257.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 SEK 76.0
$3.90 ฿130
96.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 14.37
$2.05 ฿68.6
-29.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 SEK 29.12
$1.40 ฿46.70
110.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 SEK 35.28
$1.28 ฿42.89
178.13%
Eggs
$3.25 SEK 32.23
$2.25 ฿75.3
44.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 SEK 93.4
$16.94 ฿566
-44.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.62 SEK 95.4
$2.74 ฿91.6
251.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.05 SEK 169
$9.36 ฿313
82.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 27.05
$2.40 ฿80.3
13.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 SEK 22.25
$1.01 ฿33.92
122.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 SEK 23.69
$1.61 ฿53.9
48.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 SEK 38.29
$1.52 ฿50.7
153.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 SEK 14.17
$1.28 ฿42.90
11.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 SEK 13.28
$1.11 ฿37.22
20.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 SEK 17.85
$0.72 ฿24.09
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 SEK 9.09
$0.52 ฿17.54
76.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25 SEK 71.8
$4.33 ฿145
67.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 SEK 86.8
$17.73 ฿593
-50.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 SEK 16.43
$1.63 ฿54.4
1.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 SEK 12.91
$2.85 ฿95.3
-54.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.30 SEK 32.74
$0.85 ฿28.31
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.1 SEK 843
$53.9 ฿1,801
57.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 SEK 57.7
$1.17 ฿39.18
397.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$6.09 SEK 60.4
$0.57 ฿19.00
968.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.37 ฿79.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 SEK 17.32
$1.45 ฿48.32
20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K SEK 304.4K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
50.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K SEK 298.6K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
13.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 SEK 1,002
$62.3 ฿2,083
62.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.07 SEK 278
$12.27 ฿410
128.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.21 SEK 359
$19.97 ฿668
81.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.52 SEK 401
$37.91 ฿1,267
6.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 SEK 155
$3.76 ฿126
316.22%
Cinema Ticket
$13.93 SEK 138
$6.71 ฿224
107.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 SEK 1,332
$797 ฿26.6K
-83.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4 SEK 916
$53.3 ฿1,780
73.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.51 SEK 193
$25.05 ฿837
-22.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 SEK 656
$91.6 ฿3,062
-27.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 SEK 1,203
$73.5 ฿2,455
65.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$662 SEK 6,564
$464 ฿15.5K
42.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 SEK 5,962
$305 ฿10.2K
97.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 SEK 11.6K
$915 ฿30.6K
27.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$858 SEK 8,498
$552 ฿18.5K
55.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,349 SEK 23.3K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
22.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,660 SEK 16.4K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
15.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sundsvall
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,017 SEK 29.9K
$595 ฿19.9K
406.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.88
5.57
-30.34%

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

Last update for Sundsvall: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
$602
Chiang Mai
$305 49.4% $297
Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
$308
Chiang Mai
$238 22.8% $70
Eating Out
Sundsvall
$283
Chiang Mai
$79 72.1% $204
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
$165
Chiang Mai
$95 42.8% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
$135
Chiang Mai
$110 18.8% $25
Getting Around
Sundsvall
$135
Chiang Mai
$61 54.4% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
$68
Chiang Mai
$51 24.9% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $662 in Sundsvall versus $464 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 run about 407% higher in Sundsvall, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Sundsvall versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Sundsvall
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
09:39 9:39 AM
14:39 2:39 PM
5 h ahead of Sundsvall
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,606
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 October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sundsvall Chiang Mai 7,740 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sundsvall
  • 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
Sundsvall vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sundsvall or Chiang Mai?
Sundsvall costs about 81% 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 Sundsvall and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,544 per month in Sundsvall and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $134 per month in Sundsvall and $797 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 Sundsvall or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Sundsvall, 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 Sundsvall or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Sundsvall at $1,696. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sundsvall or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $1,696 in Sundsvall. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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