😐A single person spends $1,760 per month in Ystad vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,784 per month in Ystad vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,809 per month in Ystad vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ystad costs about 103% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ystad sits 31% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51SEK 109
$1.98฿65.0
481.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.6SEK 859
$18.80฿619
381.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 99.4
$7.75฿255
35.35%
Cappuccino
$3.96SEK 37.59
$1.92฿63.2
106.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00SEK 28.44
$0.79฿26.07
279.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.74
$0.36฿11.74
625.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.51SEK 61.8
$2.21฿72.9
194.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07SEK 76.6
$3.66฿120
120.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.70
$1.65฿54.4
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.93SEK 27.75
$1.63฿53.7
79.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20SEK 30.36
$1.19฿39.28
168.91%
Eggs
$3.13SEK 29.71
$2.00฿65.8
56.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68SEK 111
$15.98฿526
-26.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71SEK 92.1
$3.03฿99.6
220.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.89SEK 179
$10.86฿357
73.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 29.73
$2.76฿90.9
13.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.30
$1.18฿38.83
126.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 28.82
$1.64฿54.0
85.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32SEK 40.98
$1.52฿50.0
184.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.73
$1.38฿45.59
20.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95SEK 18.46
$1.19฿39.25
63.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 20.92
$0.70฿23.11
215.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SEK 15.33
$0.56฿18.32
189.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.11SEK 76.9
$4.58฿151
77.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78SEK 121
$16.56฿545
-22.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.43
$1.83฿60.2
23.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63SEK 24.90
$3.20฿105
-17.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35SEK 31.80
$0.88฿28.87
280.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.1SEK 703
$18.72฿616
295.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.44SEK 99.0
$1.36฿44.64
667.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.07
$1.34฿44.12
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.7SEK 595
$7.84฿258
700.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.84
$1.23฿40.35
52.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KSEK 246.4K
$21.6K฿711.8K
20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KSEK 281.7K
$22.5K฿742.2K
31.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121SEK 1,150
$70.5฿2,322
71.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.71SEK 196
$13.68฿450
51.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16SEK 295
$17.45฿574
78.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.52SEK 384
$41.33฿1,361
-1.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39SEK 241
$6.96฿229
264.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76SEK 121
$5.77฿190
121.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,670
$307฿10.1K
-42.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,200SEK 39.8K
$14.6K฿481.0K
-71.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4SEK 497
$55.8฿1,837
-6.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.20SEK 372
$26.21฿863
49.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8SEK 918
$85.8฿2,823
12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151SEK 1,434
$72.2฿2,378
109.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848SEK 8,045
$430฿14.1K
97.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$644SEK 6,104
$239฿7,857
169.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396SEK 13.2K
$817฿26.9K
70.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,067SEK 10.1K
$511฿16.8K
108.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,373SEK 41.5K
$1,983฿65.3K
120.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,924SEK 27.7K
$1,484฿48.9K
97.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,915SEK 18.2K
$619฿20.4K
209.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ystad: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $848 in Ystad versus $430 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 209% higher in Ystad, 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 $91.0 in Ystad versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $241 – 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
Ystad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ystad or Chiang Mai?
Ystad costs about 103% 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 Ystad vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,640 per month in Ystad and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ystad 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 Ystad and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Ystad and $307 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 Ystad or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Ystad, 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 Ystad or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Ystad at $1,760. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ystad or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,760 in Ystad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ystad 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 Ystad or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.