😐A single person spends $1,814 per month in Varnamo vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Varnamo vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,842 per month in Varnamo vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Varnamo costs about 113% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Varnamo sits 35% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.57SEK 117
$1.96฿64.0
541.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3SEK 812
$18.81฿615
363.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.19SEK 113
$7.92฿259
53.91%
Cappuccino
$5.05SEK 46.93
$1.91฿62.6
164.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84SEK 26.38
$0.84฿27.41
238.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 19.28
$0.35฿11.51
491.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00SEK 74.4
$2.21฿72.1
261.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEK 69.8
$3.80฿124
97.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 14.90
$1.64฿53.5
-2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13SEK 19.83
$1.62฿53.1
31.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94SEK 27.34
$1.18฿38.62
149.15%
Eggs
$4.44SEK 41.29
$2.01฿65.8
120.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.16SEK 122
$15.89฿520
-17.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.74SEK 109
$3.01฿98.5
290.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.83SEK 157
$10.77฿352
56.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 29.50
$2.61฿85.5
21.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 26.23
$1.22฿39.88
131.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77SEK 25.75
$1.70฿55.7
62.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 42.07
$1.58฿51.5
186.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69SEK 15.69
$1.32฿43.14
28.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SEK 14.83
$1.17฿38.23
35.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66SEK 24.78
$0.67฿21.98
297.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 11.89
$0.56฿18.32
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20SEK 76.3
$4.53฿148
81.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.22SEK 114
$18.20฿595
-32.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 18.80
$1.83฿60.0
10.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25SEK 20.91
$3.23฿106
-30.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48SEK 32.36
$0.89฿29.00
291.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7SEK 686
$19.38฿634
280.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61SEK 52.2
$1.35฿44.20
315.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56SEK 23.77
$1.35฿44.05
89.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.8SEK 593
$8.25฿270
673.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.61
$1.27฿41.64
48.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 303.8K
$21.2K฿691.8K
54.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 316.8K
$22.5K฿735.3K
51.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SEK 1,141
$70.2฿2,294
74.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.26SEK 272
$13.77฿450
112.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.11SEK 373
$17.60฿575
127.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.27SEK 384
$41.57฿1,360
-0.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88SEK 231
$6.60฿216
276.97%
Cinema Ticket
$17.70SEK 165
$5.78฿189
206.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179SEK 1,664
$306฿10.0K
-41.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,165SEK 38.7K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-71.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.2SEK 746
$54.4฿1,778
47.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0SEK 567
$26.14฿855
133.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 986
$84.5฿2,764
25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127SEK 1,181
$69.4฿2,270
82.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,743
$424฿13.9K
96.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663SEK 6,169
$238฿7,788
178.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377SEK 12.8K
$825฿27.0K
66.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 9,902
$515฿16.8K
106.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,394SEK 40.9K
$2,049฿67.0K
114.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,014SEK 28.0K
$1,523฿49.8K
97.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varnamo
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,169SEK 20.2K
$635฿20.8K
241.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
5
-4.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Varnamo: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $833 in Varnamo versus $424 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 242% higher in Varnamo, 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 $87.0 in Varnamo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Varnamo vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Varnamo or Chiang Mai?
Varnamo costs about 113% 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 Varnamo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,720 per month in Varnamo and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Varnamo 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 Varnamo and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Varnamo and $306 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 Varnamo or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Varnamo, 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 Varnamo or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Varnamo at $1,814. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varnamo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Varnamo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,814 in Varnamo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Varnamo 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 Varnamo or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varnamo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Varnamo vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado