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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,782 in Asker, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,993 in Asker, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,203 in Asker, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 69% cheaper than Asker, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Asker is 107% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$25.60 NOK 243

-92.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$100 NOK 949

-81.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$13.21 NOK 125

-41.33%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$5.05 NOK 47.95

-61.98%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.73 NOK 25.94

-71.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.12 NOK 20.10

-83.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$11.29 NOK 107

-80.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$9.33 NOK 88.6

-60.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.18 NOK 20.67

-24.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.32 NOK 31.55

-50.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$3.64 NOK 34.52

-67.31%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$4.35 NOK 41.31

-54.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$11.24 NOK 107

42.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$13.81 NOK 131

-78.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$31.79 NOK 302

-65.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.69 NOK 35.01

-25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.52 NOK 23.88

-53.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.40 NOK 32.30

-51.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.44 NOK 42.13

-65.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.51 NOK 23.82

-45.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.48 NOK 23.51

-52.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.85 NOK 27.05

-75.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.99 NOK 18.93

-71.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$14.39 NOK 137

-68.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$18.64 NOK 177

-11.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$3.51 NOK 33.33

-47.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$4.41 NOK 41.82

-27.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$4.13 NOK 39.20

-78.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$79.8 NOK 757

-76.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$10.21 NOK 97.0

-86.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.38 NOK 13.14

-2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$42.17 NOK 400

-81.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.17 NOK 20.61

-43.32%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$36.1K NOK 342.5K

-40.07%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$43.3K NOK 410.8K

-47.90%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$220 NOK 2,087

-67.91%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$31.31 NOK 297

-56.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$38.57 NOK 366

-54.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$49.68 NOK 472

-16.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$35.83 NOK 340

-80.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$15.19 NOK 144

-62.01%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$267 NOK 2,537

14.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$14.8K NOK 140.2K

-1.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$105 NOK 995

-46.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$46.30 NOK 439

-43.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$125 NOK 1,182

-31.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$149 NOK 1,413

-51.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$1,546 NOK 14.7K

-72.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$1,232 NOK 11.7K

-80.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$2,255 NOK 21.4K

-63.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,762 NOK 16.7K

-71.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$10.1K NOK 96.1K

-80.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$4,503 NOK 42.7K

-67.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$3,883 NOK 36.9K

-84.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.38

14.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Asker: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,546 in Asker. 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 527% higher in Asker, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $100 in Asker. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $466 – 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

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

Asker costs about 220% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,173 in Asker. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $267 in Asker. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 93% more in Asker, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Asker at $2,782. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asker it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,782 in Asker. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Asker makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.