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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,682 in Fredrikstad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,010 in Fredrikstad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,338 in Fredrikstad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Fredrikstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Fredrikstad is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$17.97 NOK 173

-89.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$114 NOK 1,094

-83.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$11.91 NOK 115

-37.20%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$5.34 NOK 51.5

-62.17%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$3.97 NOK 38.25

-78.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$2.74 NOK 26.47

-86.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$11.01 NOK 106

-80.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$10.29 NOK 99.3

-65.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.19 NOK 21.09

-24.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$4.25 NOK 41.02

-63.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$3.27 NOK 31.54

-63.61%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$5.22 NOK 50.4

-62.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$11.78 NOK 114

37.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$16.02 NOK 155

-81.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$34.17 NOK 330

-67.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.51 NOK 43.50

-39.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$3.52 NOK 33.95

-66.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$4.50 NOK 43.39

-62.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$5.04 NOK 48.63

-68.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$2.75 NOK 26.52

-49.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.66 NOK 25.64

-54.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$2.64 NOK 25.50

-74.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.85 NOK 17.81

-69.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$14.87 NOK 143

-68.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$21.86 NOK 211

-19.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$3.43 NOK 33.04

-45.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$6.11 NOK 59.0

-45.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$3.87 NOK 37.35

-77.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$63.7 NOK 614

-69.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$6.22 NOK 60.0

-78.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.46 NOK 14.04

-8.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$52.3 NOK 504

-84.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.27 NOK 21.93

-46.26%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$35.1K NOK 338.3K

-39.14%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$39.1K NOK 377.0K

-42.37%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$339 NOK 3,272

-79.17%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$37.93 NOK 366

-62.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$57.0 NOK 550

-69.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$48.85 NOK 471

-13.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$39.15 NOK 377

-82.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$22.16 NOK 214

-73.29%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$284 NOK 2,737

8.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$10.2K NOK 98.3K

45.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$154 NOK 1,484

-63.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$60.2 NOK 581

-56.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$166 NOK 1,605

-50.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$133 NOK 1,279

-46.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$1,266 NOK 12.2K

-65.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$943 NOK 9,096

-74.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$2,100 NOK 20.3K

-60.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,541 NOK 14.9K

-66.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$5,874 NOK 56.6K

-67.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$3,915 NOK 37.8K

-62.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,227 NOK 31.1K

-82.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

17.65%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $1,266 in Fredrikstad. 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 457% higher in Fredrikstad, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Fredrikstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $523 – 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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fredrikstad costs about 211% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,023 in Fredrikstad. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $284 in Fredrikstad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 115% more in Fredrikstad, 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 $861, than in Fredrikstad at $2,682. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fredrikstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad. 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, Fredrikstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.