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: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $2,908 in Askim.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $4,386 in Askim.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $5,865 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 31% below, Askim is 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$21.05 NOK 195

-90.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$130 NOK 1,208

-84.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$16.15 NOK 150

-64.15%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$5.95 NOK 55.2

-69.24%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$4.14 NOK 38.36

-81.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$3.47 NOK 32.19

-91.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$11.63 NOK 108

-79.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$12.93 NOK 120

-71.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.55 NOK 23.65

-20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$4.27 NOK 39.57

-62.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$4.70 NOK 43.62

-69.79%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$6.22 NOK 57.7

-64.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$15.14 NOK 140

5.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$15.36 NOK 143

-80.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$29.73 NOK 276

-66.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.35 NOK 31.08

-21.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.71 NOK 25.16

-59.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$3.45 NOK 32.04

-52.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$6.15 NOK 57.0

-75.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.65 NOK 24.60

-53.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.99 NOK 27.73

-62.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$3.23 NOK 29.97

-77.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$2.45 NOK 22.68

-79.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$19.06 NOK 177

-77.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$17.14 NOK 159

4.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$3.58 NOK 33.18

-52.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$4.29 NOK 39.84

-32.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$4.58 NOK 42.48

-79.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$84.8 NOK 787

-34.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$12.31 NOK 114

-90.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.90 NOK 17.62

-72.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$71.1 NOK 660

-96.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.36 NOK 21.87

-38.98%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$49.3K NOK 457.0K

-56.98%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$38.8K NOK 359.6K

-29.56%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$426 NOK 3,954

-84.77%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$32.58 NOK 302

-59.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$56.7 NOK 526

-63.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$50.1 NOK 465

-19.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$37.99 NOK 352

-89.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$16.36 NOK 152

-58.99%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$246 NOK 2,278

220.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$16.1K NOK 149.8K

-6.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$104 NOK 969

-46.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$61.2 NOK 568

-59.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$138 NOK 1,283

-32.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$158 NOK 1,465

-52.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$1,233 NOK 11.4K

-60.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$1,022 NOK 9,480

-71.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$2,015 NOK 18.7K

-54.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,708 NOK 15.8K

-68.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$6,526 NOK 60.5K

-69.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$4,254 NOK 39.5K

-65.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$4,325 NOK 40.1K

-86.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.96

12.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Askim: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $484 in Chiang Mai and $1,233 in Askim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Askim pays 615% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $130 in Askim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $518 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 206% in total monthly costs ($950 vs $2,908 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 615% 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: $484 in Chiang Mai versus $1,233 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 $20.00 versus $130 in Askim. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $2,908 in Askim – a 206% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $2,908 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 206% less than in Askim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.