Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$11.51 SEK 109
$1.98 ฿65.0
481.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.6 SEK 859
$18.80 ฿619
381.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 SEK 99.4
$7.75 ฿255
35.35%
Cappuccino
$3.96 SEK 37.59
$1.92 ฿63.2
106.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 SEK 28.44
$0.79 ฿26.07
279.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 SEK 24.74
$0.36 ฿11.74
625.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.51 SEK 61.8
$2.21 ฿72.9
194.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 SEK 76.6
$3.66 ฿120
120.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 16.70
$1.65 ฿54.4
6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 SEK 27.75
$1.63 ฿53.7
79.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 SEK 30.36
$1.19 ฿39.28
168.91%
Eggs
$3.13 SEK 29.71
$2.00 ฿65.8
56.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.68 SEK 111
$15.98 ฿526
-26.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 SEK 92.1
$3.03 ฿99.6
220.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.89 SEK 179
$10.86 ฿357
73.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 29.73
$2.76 ฿90.9
13.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 25.30
$1.18 ฿38.83
126.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 SEK 28.82
$1.64 ฿54.0
85.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 SEK 40.98
$1.52 ฿50.0
184.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 15.73
$1.38 ฿45.59
20.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 SEK 18.46
$1.19 ฿39.25
63.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 SEK 20.92
$0.70 ฿23.11
215.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 SEK 15.33
$0.56 ฿18.32
189.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.11 SEK 76.9
$4.58 ฿151
77.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.78 SEK 121
$16.56 ฿545
-22.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.43
$1.83 ฿60.2
23.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 SEK 24.90
$3.20 ฿105
-17.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.35 SEK 31.80
$0.88 ฿28.87
280.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 SEK 703
$18.72 ฿616
295.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.44 SEK 99.0
$1.36 ฿44.64
667.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 15.07
$1.34 ฿44.12
18.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.7 SEK 595
$7.84 ฿258
700.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 SEK 17.84
$1.23 ฿40.35
52.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K SEK 246.4K
$21.6K ฿711.8K
20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K SEK 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)
$121 SEK 1,150
$70.5 ฿2,322
71.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.71 SEK 196
$13.68 ฿450
51.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16 SEK 295
$17.45 ฿574
78.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.52 SEK 384
$41.33 ฿1,361
-1.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39 SEK 241
$6.96 ฿229
264.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76 SEK 121
$5.77 ฿190
121.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 SEK 1,670
$307 ฿10.1K
-42.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,200 SEK 39.8K
$14.6K ฿481.0K
-71.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 SEK 497
$55.8 ฿1,837
-6.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.20 SEK 372
$26.21 ฿863
49.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 SEK 918
$85.8 ฿2,823
12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 SEK 1,434
$72.2 ฿2,378
109.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 SEK 8,045
$430 ฿14.1K
97.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$644 SEK 6,104
$239 ฿7,857
169.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 SEK 13.2K
$817 ฿26.9K
70.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 SEK 10.1K
$511 ฿16.8K
108.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,373 SEK 41.5K
$1,983 ฿65.3K
120.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,924 SEK 27.7K
$1,484 ฿48.9K
97.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,915 SEK 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.

Ystad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities