😐A single person spends $1,769 per month in Ystad vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,726 per month in Ystad vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,683 per month in Ystad vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ystad costs about 109% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ystad sits 32% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51SEK 112
$2.03฿68.4
467.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1SEK 914
$18.71฿630
402.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36SEK 101
$7.84฿264
32.14%
Cappuccino
$3.95SEK 38.39
$1.93฿64.9
104.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SEK 29.91
$0.83฿28.00
271.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62SEK 25.41
$0.35฿11.80
648.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14SEK 59.7
$2.22฿74.8
176.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 76.4
$3.79฿128
107.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.07
$1.65฿55.4
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97SEK 28.81
$1.55฿52.3
91.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEK 32.44
$1.18฿39.79
183.05%
Eggs
$3.09SEK 29.97
$2.01฿67.9
53.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61SEK 113
$16.16฿544
-28.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.60SEK 93.3
$3.03฿102
216.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.57SEK 180
$10.84฿365
71.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 30.06
$2.68฿90.3
15.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77SEK 26.92
$1.22฿41.14
127.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87SEK 27.89
$1.63฿54.8
76.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22SEK 40.96
$1.53฿51.5
175.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 16.22
$1.34฿45.10
24.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.18
$1.21฿40.86
54.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26SEK 21.97
$0.70฿23.63
222.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SEK 15.17
$0.53฿17.70
194.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.00SEK 77.7
$4.69฿158
70.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.14SEK 118
$17.71฿597
-31.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.26
$1.85฿62.2
18.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 24.26
$3.21฿108
-22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35SEK 32.52
$0.89฿30.01
276.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.7SEK 725
$18.76฿632
298.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.19SEK 99.0
$1.41฿47.40
622.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 16.06
$1.29฿43.52
27.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6SEK 598
$7.79฿262
690.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.21
$1.29฿43.59
44.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSEK 255.3K
$21.8K฿733.4K
20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KSEK 286.2K
$21.7K฿730.7K
35.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120SEK 1,169
$70.0฿2,358
71.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33SEK 207
$14.19฿478
50.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.14SEK 312
$17.42฿587
84.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38SEK 392
$41.64฿1,403
-3.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.42SEK 247
$6.89฿232
268.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.58SEK 122
$5.78฿195
117.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173SEK 1,677
$300฿10.1K
-42.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,082SEK 39.6K
$14.5K฿489.2K
-71.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4SEK 509
$55.4฿1,865
-5.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33SEK 382
$26.31฿886
49.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0SEK 932
$84.8฿2,858
13.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,504
$70.5฿2,375
119.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$823SEK 7,994
$425฿14.3K
93.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653SEK 6,346
$235฿7,919
177.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,380SEK 13.4K
$802฿27.0K
72.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 10.3K
$516฿17.4K
106.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,121SEK 40.0K
$1,926฿64.9K
113.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,813SEK 27.3K
$1,451฿48.9K
93.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,895SEK 18.4K
$586฿19.8K
223.16%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $823 in Ystad versus $425 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 223% 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 $94.0 in Ystad versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 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
Ystad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ystad or Chiang Mai?
Ystad costs about 109% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,653 per month in Ystad and $1,271 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $173 per month in Ystad and $300 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 46% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Ystad at $1,769. 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 $847 versus $1,769 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 to 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.