😐A single person spends $1,630 per month in Trollhattan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,558 per month in Trollhattan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,486 per month in Trollhattan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Trollhattan costs about 88% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Trollhattan sits 22% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.17SEK 114
$1.94฿63.5
527.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5SEK 764
$18.64฿609
337.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39SEK 97.4
$7.82฿255
32.86%
Cappuccino
$3.78SEK 35.43
$1.95฿63.8
93.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 12.53
$0.85฿27.77
57.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 12.55
$0.35฿11.58
282.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.80SEK 73.2
$2.13฿69.6
266.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07SEK 75.7
$3.73฿122
116.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54SEK 14.47
$1.71฿56.0
-9.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25SEK 21.10
$1.63฿53.2
38.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93SEK 36.90
$1.14฿37.15
244.74%
Eggs
$3.99SEK 37.39
$1.93฿63.1
106.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.16SEK 114
$16.21฿530
-24.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.63SEK 90.3
$3.12฿102
208.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.64SEK 137
$10.90฿356
34.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19SEK 29.93
$2.75฿90.0
16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SEK 24.61
$1.21฿39.52
116.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54SEK 33.23
$1.62฿53.0
118.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59SEK 33.68
$1.59฿51.8
125.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20SEK 20.61
$1.40฿45.70
57.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00SEK 18.73
$1.17฿38.17
70.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87SEK 26.91
$0.66฿21.60
334.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86SEK 17.41
$0.53฿17.22
250.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14SEK 76.3
$4.69฿153
73.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27SEK 134
$18.66฿609
-23.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.07
$1.80฿58.8
-28.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67SEK 15.63
$3.23฿106
-48.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 31.96
$0.90฿29.26
278.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.4SEK 698
$19.21฿628
287.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64SEK 34.15
$1.41฿45.91
158.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57SEK 24.07
$1.29฿42.12
99.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.85SEK 402
$7.84฿256
446.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 17.82
$1.27฿41.58
49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 302.5K
$21.3K฿694.9K
51.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 316.2K
$22.2K฿725.4K
51.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192SEK 1,798
$69.1฿2,256
177.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.98SEK 272
$14.08฿460
105.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.06SEK 291
$18.00฿588
72.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.33SEK 378
$41.06฿1,341
-1.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.91SEK 234
$6.96฿227
257.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.50SEK 136
$5.92฿193
144.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,473
$299฿9,766
-47.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,401SEK 13.1K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-90.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1SEK 789
$54.7฿1,787
53.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.31SEK 294
$26.77฿874
16.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.3SEK 791
$85.0฿2,776
-0.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122SEK 1,147
$70.6฿2,306
73.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630SEK 5,911
$428฿14.0K
47.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481SEK 4,511
$237฿7,752
102.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,120SEK 10.5K
$801฿26.2K
39.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$802SEK 7,523
$515฿16.8K
55.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,406SEK 41.3K
$1,975฿64.5K
123.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,967SEK 27.8K
$1,475฿48.2K
101.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trollhattan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,479SEK 32.6K
$617฿20.2K
463.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
5
-16.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trollhattan: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $630 in Trollhattan versus $428 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 463% higher in Trollhattan, 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 $81.0 in Trollhattan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $246 – 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
Trollhattan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Trollhattan or Chiang Mai?
Trollhattan costs about 88% 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 Trollhattan vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,445 per month in Trollhattan and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Trollhattan 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 Trollhattan and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Trollhattan 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 Trollhattan or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Trollhattan, 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 Trollhattan or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Trollhattan at $1,630. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trollhattan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Trollhattan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,630 in Trollhattan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Trollhattan 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 Trollhattan or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Trollhattan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Trollhattan vs other spots: cost of living compared