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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 67% less than in Askim, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.5

$25.32 NOK 243

-91.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿631

$122 NOK 1,170

-84.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿265

$15.07 NOK 145

-47.98%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿65.0

$4.92 NOK 47.21

-60.77%

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

$0.83 ฿28.05

$4.06 NOK 38.90

-79.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.82

$3.32 NOK 31.85

-89.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.9

$12.13 NOK 116

-81.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$11.21 NOK 108

-66.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.37 NOK 22.77

-30.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.4

$4.13 NOK 39.62

-62.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.86

$3.60 NOK 34.48

-67.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿68.0

$5.04 NOK 48.35

-60.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿545

$13.18 NOK 126

22.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$16.34 NOK 157

-81.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿366

$31.44 NOK 302

-65.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.4

$3.45 NOK 33.08

-22.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.21

$2.55 NOK 24.47

-52.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$3.37 NOK 32.27

-51.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$5.15 NOK 49.35

-70.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.18

$2.44 NOK 23.41

-45.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.93

$2.63 NOK 25.20

-53.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.67

$2.84 NOK 27.22

-75.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.73

$2.32 NOK 22.23

-77.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$17.34 NOK 166

-72.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿598

$18.73 NOK 180

-5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.3

$3.53 NOK 33.86

-47.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$4.19 NOK 40.17

-23.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.07

$4.22 NOK 40.46

-78.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

$72.9 NOK 699

-74.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.48

$10.32 NOK 99.0

-86.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$1.39 NOK 13.34

-7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿263

$42.16 NOK 404

-81.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.67

$2.27 NOK 21.80

-43.17%

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

$21.8K ฿734.7K

$35.7K NOK 342.8K

-39.10%

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

$21.7K ฿732.1K

$35.9K NOK 344.1K

-39.55%

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

$70.0 ฿2,362

$300 NOK 2,875

-76.66%

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

$14.19 ฿479

$30.99 NOK 297

-54.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿588

$56.3 NOK 540

-69.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,405

$49.39 NOK 474

-15.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

$35.48 NOK 340

-80.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$15.10 NOK 145

-61.72%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$271 NOK 2,599

10.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿490.1K

$14.6K NOK 140.2K

-0.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,869

$104 NOK 1,002

-46.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿888

$65.2 NOK 625

-59.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,863

$123 NOK 1,184

-31.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,379

$165 NOK 1,581

-57.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.4K

$1,228 NOK 11.8K

-65.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,933

$901 NOK 8,645

-73.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.1K

$1,847 NOK 17.7K

-56.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$1,534 NOK 14.7K

-66.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿65.0K

$5,887 NOK 56.5K

-67.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿49.0K

$3,936 NOK 37.8K

-63.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$4,146 NOK 39.8K

-85.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.08

-1.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Askim: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Chiang Mai and $1,228 in Askim. 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $122 in Askim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $502 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

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

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

On paper, salaries run 607% lower in Askim. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Chiang Mai versus $1,228 in Askim. 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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai versus $2,569 in Askim – 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, Chiang Mai and Askim 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.