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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,569 in Askim versus $847 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,990 in Askim versus $1,332 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,410 in Askim versus $1,816 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Askim is roughly 203% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Askim is 92% above, Chiang Mai is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 NOK 243

$2.03 ฿68.5

1147.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 NOK 1,170

$18.71 ฿631

552.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.07 NOK 145

$7.84 ฿265

92.22%

Cappuccino

$4.92 NOK 47.21

$1.93 ฿65.0

154.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 NOK 38.90

$0.83 ฿28.05

389.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 NOK 31.85

$0.35 ฿11.82

848.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.13 NOK 116

$2.22 ฿74.9

446.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.21 NOK 108

$3.79 ฿128

195.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 NOK 22.77

$1.65 ฿55.5

43.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 NOK 39.62

$1.55 ฿52.4

166.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 NOK 34.48

$1.18 ฿39.86

205.08%

Eggs

$5.04 NOK 48.35

$2.01 ฿68.0

150.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 NOK 126

$16.16 ฿545

-18.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.34 NOK 157

$3.03 ฿102

439.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.44 NOK 302

$10.84 ฿366

190.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 NOK 33.08

$2.68 ฿90.4

28.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 NOK 24.47

$1.22 ฿41.21

109.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 NOK 32.27

$1.63 ฿54.9

106.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.15 NOK 49.35

$1.53 ฿51.6

236.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 NOK 23.41

$1.34 ฿45.18

82.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 NOK 25.20

$1.21 ฿40.93

117.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 NOK 27.22

$0.70 ฿23.67

305.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 NOK 22.23

$0.53 ฿17.73

337.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.34 NOK 166

$4.69 ฿158

269.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.73 NOK 180

$17.71 ฿598

5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 NOK 33.86

$1.85 ฿62.3

90.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 NOK 40.17

$3.21 ฿108

30.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.22 NOK 40.46

$0.89 ฿30.07

374.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.9 NOK 699

$18.76 ฿633

288.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.32 NOK 99.0

$1.41 ฿47.48

631.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 NOK 13.34

$1.29 ฿43.59

7.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.16 NOK 404

$7.79 ฿263

441.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 NOK 21.80

$1.29 ฿43.67

75.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K NOK 342.8K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

64.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.9K NOK 344.1K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

65.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$300 NOK 2,875

$70.0 ฿2,362

328.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.99 NOK 297

$14.19 ฿479

118.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 NOK 540

$17.42 ฿588

223.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.39 NOK 474

$41.64 ฿1,405

18.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.48 NOK 340

$6.89 ฿233

414.95%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 NOK 145

$5.78 ฿195

161.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$271 NOK 2,599

$300 ฿10.1K

-9.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K NOK 140.2K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

0.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 NOK 1,002

$55.4 ฿1,869

88.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.2 NOK 625

$26.31 ฿888

147.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 NOK 1,184

$84.8 ฿2,863

45.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 NOK 1,581

$70.5 ฿2,379

133.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 NOK 11.8K

$425 ฿14.4K

188.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 NOK 8,645

$235 ฿7,933

283.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 NOK 17.7K

$802 ฿27.1K

130.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 NOK 14.7K

$516 ฿17.4K

197.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,887 NOK 56.5K

$1,926 ฿65.0K

205.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,936 NOK 37.8K

$1,451 ฿49.0K

171.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,146 NOK 39.8K

$586 ฿19.8K

607.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.08

1.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Askim: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,228 in Askim and $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Askim pays 607% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $122 in Askim vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $502 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Askim vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Askim and Chiang Mai differ by about 203% in total monthly costs ($2,569 vs $847 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 607% higher in Askim, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,228 in Askim versus $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $122 in Askim. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,569 per month in Askim versus $847 in Chiang Mai – a 203% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $847 in Chiang Mai versus $2,569 in Askim, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Askim. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Askim and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 203% less than in Askim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.