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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,605 in Gjovik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,096 in Gjovik, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,587 in Gjovik, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 65% cheaper than Gjovik, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 33% below the global median, while Gjovik is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$21.04 NOK 197

-89.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$125 NOK 1,168

-84.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$15.96 NOK 149

-63.35%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$4.31 NOK 40.25

-59.16%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$3.15 NOK 29.45

-76.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$3.12 NOK 29.14

-89.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$10.25 NOK 95.7

-75.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$8.64 NOK 80.7

-55.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$2.66 NOK 24.80

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$4.11 NOK 38.35

-59.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$4.41 NOK 41.15

-69.39%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$6.19 NOK 57.8

-65.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$14.51 NOK 136

9.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$15.89 NOK 148

-82.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$28.66 NOK 268

-63.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$3.45 NOK 32.21

-31.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$2.64 NOK 24.62

-59.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$3.50 NOK 32.70

-56.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$5.81 NOK 54.3

-74.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$2.73 NOK 25.49

-53.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$2.87 NOK 26.78

-61.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$3.05 NOK 28.47

-77.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$2.38 NOK 22.26

-79.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$18.84 NOK 176

-77.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$17.38 NOK 162

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$3.57 NOK 33.37

-53.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$4.40 NOK 41.12

-36.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$2.81 NOK 26.28

-67.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$84.3 NOK 788

-34.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$12.30 NOK 115

-90.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.89 NOK 17.67

-71.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$69.3 NOK 648

-96.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$2.03 NOK 18.96

-29.56%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$49.5K NOK 462.0K

-57.40%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$45.4K NOK 423.5K

-40.18%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$278 NOK 2,596

-76.71%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$32.87 NOK 307

-59.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$54.2 NOK 507

-64.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$42.84 NOK 400

-7.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$35.94 NOK 336

-89.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$14.97 NOK 140

-55.78%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$268 NOK 2,506

200.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$15.5K NOK 145.1K

-2.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$104 NOK 969

-47.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$62.1 NOK 580

-59.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$135 NOK 1,257

-31.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$160 NOK 1,494

-53.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$1,666 NOK 15.6K

-71.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$988 NOK 9,228

-71.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$1,967 NOK 18.4K

-54.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$1,474 NOK 13.8K

-64.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$6,251 NOK 58.4K

-68.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$4,467 NOK 41.7K

-67.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$3,853 NOK 36.0K

-84.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.98

11.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Gjovik: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $1,666 in Gjovik. 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 551% higher in Gjovik, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $125 in Gjovik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $511 – 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 Gjovik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gjovik costs about 183% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,908 in Gjovik. 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $268 in Gjovik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 116% more in Gjovik, 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 $920, than in Gjovik at $2,605. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gjovik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $2,605 in Gjovik. 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, Gjovik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.