😐A single person spends $1,750 per month in Visby vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,770 per month in Visby vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,790 per month in Visby vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Visby costs about 106% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Visby sits 31% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.40SEK 97.3
$1.96฿63.6
430.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.8SEK 896
$18.39฿598
420.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30SEK 87.0
$7.87฿256
18.17%
Cappuccino
$3.20SEK 29.89
$1.95฿63.4
64.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21SEK 30.04
$0.85฿27.57
277.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88SEK 26.98
$0.32฿10.52
800.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.79SEK 72.8
$2.14฿69.6
264.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29SEK 40.14
$3.68฿120
16.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59SEK 14.90
$1.66฿53.9
-4.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.61SEK 24.42
$1.56฿50.7
67.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18SEK 29.73
$1.19฿38.63
167.23%
Eggs
$3.97SEK 37.18
$1.99฿64.7
99.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.66SEK 99.7
$16.24฿528
-34.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.15SEK 114
$3.17฿103
283.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.19SEK 170
$10.84฿352
67.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 29.02
$2.65฿86.2
16.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.08
$1.22฿39.67
110.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20SEK 29.95
$1.65฿53.7
93.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.01
$1.55฿50.3
134.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81SEK 16.91
$1.33฿43.17
36.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.24
$1.21฿39.43
43.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92SEK 27.35
$0.68฿22.04
329.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13SEK 10.54
$0.57฿18.38
98.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18SEK 57.8
$4.68฿152
32.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.81SEK 120
$16.99฿552
-24.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.27
$1.82฿59.3
30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.08
$3.18฿103
-42.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07SEK 28.75
$0.91฿29.46
237.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.98SEK 468
$18.74฿609
166.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66SEK 34.26
$1.41฿45.80
159.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18SEK 11.07
$1.34฿43.52
-11.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$83.6SEK 782
$8.14฿265
926.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.71
$1.28฿41.53
47.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 303.9K
$21.8K฿709.3K
48.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 322.9K
$22.4K฿728.0K
54.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191SEK 1,785
$70.5฿2,291
170.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99SEK 271
$14.05฿457
106.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.04SEK 384
$17.65฿574
132.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.40SEK 462
$41.29฿1,342
19.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.80SEK 400
$6.76฿220
533.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.51SEK 136
$5.96฿194
143.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,506
$303฿9,846
-46.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,061SEK 38.0K
$15.0K฿486.2K
-72.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4SEK 883
$54.7฿1,778
72.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.47SEK 397
$26.29฿854
61.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5SEK 847
$85.8฿2,788
5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121SEK 1,136
$69.7฿2,265
74.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$767SEK 7,178
$428฿13.9K
79.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580SEK 5,421
$239฿7,769
142.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,480SEK 13.8K
$811฿26.4K
82.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 9,965
$510฿16.6K
109.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779SEK 35.3K
$2,025฿65.8K
86.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,004SEK 28.1K
$1,502฿48.8K
99.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visby
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,714SEK 25.4K
$623฿20.2K
335.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
5
-2.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Visby: June 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Visby 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 336% higher in Visby, 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 $96.0 in Visby versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $242 – 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
Visby vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Visby or Chiang Mai?
Visby costs about 106% 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 Visby vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,624 per month in Visby and $1,272 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Visby 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 Visby and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Visby and $303 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 Visby or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Visby, 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 Visby or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Visby at $1,750. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Visby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Visby or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,750 in Visby. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Visby 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 Visby or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Visby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.