🙂A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,385 in Egersund, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,691 in Egersund, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,997 in Egersund, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Egersund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Egersund is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$25.69NOK 244
-92.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$102NOK 967
-81.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$13.16NOK 125
-41.11%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$4.98NOK 47.31
-61.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$2.51NOK 23.87
-68.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$2.21NOK 20.97
-83.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$9.20NOK 87.3
-75.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$9.48NOK 90.0
-61.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$2.10NOK 19.90
-21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$3.27NOK 31.00
-50.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$3.18NOK 30.14
-62.58%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$4.37NOK 41.46
-54.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$11.25NOK 107
42.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$13.91NOK 132
-78.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$41.23NOK 391
-73.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.70NOK 35.11
-25.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.28NOK 21.62
-48.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$3.37NOK 31.98
-51.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$4.03NOK 38.28
-62.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$2.28NOK 21.63
-39.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$2.19NOK 20.81
-45.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$2.99NOK 28.38
-76.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$1.82NOK 17.31
-69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$14.13NOK 134
-67.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$18.43NOK 175
-10.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$2.88NOK 27.36
-36.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$4.04NOK 38.32
-20.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$4.59NOK 43.59
-80.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$76.5NOK 726
-75.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$10.05NOK 95.4
-86.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$2.17NOK 20.58
-38.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$102NOK 968
-92.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$2.18NOK 20.65
-43.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$35.6KNOK 338.1K
-39.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$38.9KNOK 368.9K
-41.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$217NOK 2,064
-67.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$43.03NOK 408
-68.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$37.79NOK 359
-53.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$48.49NOK 460
-14.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$35.65NOK 338
-80.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$14.85NOK 141
-61.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$309NOK 2,934
-0.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$10.2KNOK 96.7K
43.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$99.9NOK 948
-44.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$46.57NOK 442
-43.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$101NOK 956
-14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$80.8NOK 767
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$1,215NOK 11.5K
-64.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$879NOK 8,341
-72.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$1,206NOK 11.4K
-32.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$1,538NOK 14.6K
-66.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Egersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$4,215NOK 40.0K
-85.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
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 Egersund: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,215 in Egersund. 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 581% higher in Egersund, 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 $102 in Egersund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $481 – 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 Egersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Egersund?
Egersund costs about 174% 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 Chiang Mai vs Egersund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,577 in Egersund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Egersund?
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 Chiang Mai and Egersund?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $309 in Egersund. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Egersund?
Groceries cost about 100% more in Egersund, 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 Chiang Mai or Egersund?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Egersund at $2,385. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Egersund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Egersund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,385 in Egersund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Egersund?
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 Chiang Mai or Egersund?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Egersund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared