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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,382 in Grimstad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,516 in Grimstad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,650 in Grimstad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Grimstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Grimstad is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$22.62 NOK 215

-91.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$51.1 NOK 485

-63.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$14.93 NOK 142

-48.09%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.65 NOK 44.16

-58.71%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$3.95 NOK 37.53

-80.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$3.18 NOK 30.15

-88.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$12.35 NOK 117

-82.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$10.13 NOK 96.2

-63.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.38 NOK 22.61

-30.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.11 NOK 29.55

-47.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$3.12 NOK 29.63

-61.86%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.28 NOK 31.10

-39.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.98 NOK 104

45.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$13.84 NOK 131

-78.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$16.01 NOK 152

-32.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.04 NOK 19.38

35.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.25 NOK 21.32

-47.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.32 NOK 31.53

-50.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.04 NOK 38.33

-62.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.44 NOK 23.13

-43.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.57 NOK 24.37

-53.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.84 NOK 26.94

-75.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.74 NOK 16.54

-67.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$16.98 NOK 161

-73.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$15.94 NOK 151

3.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$3.38 NOK 32.07

-45.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$4.20 NOK 39.82

-23.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$5.18 NOK 49.19

-83.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$77.0 NOK 731

-75.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$10.22 NOK 97.0

-86.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.41 NOK 13.36

-4.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$42.62 NOK 405

-81.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.28 NOK 21.67

-46.05%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$36.2K NOK 344.0K

-40.34%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$43.2K NOK 409.9K

-47.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$300 NOK 2,843

-76.45%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$28.50 NOK 271

-52.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$57.0 NOK 541

-69.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$49.64 NOK 471

-16.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$34.88 NOK 331

-80.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$15.05 NOK 143

-61.66%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$269 NOK 2,552

14.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$15.0K NOK 142.1K

-2.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$50.8 NOK 482

9.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$61.9 NOK 588

-57.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$103 NOK 979

-16.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$166 NOK 1,580

-56.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$1,216 NOK 11.5K

-64.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$907 NOK 8,608

-73.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,800 NOK 17.1K

-54.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,542 NOK 14.6K

-66.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$4,416 NOK 41.9K

-85.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.9

2.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Grimstad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $1,216 in Grimstad. 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 614% higher in Grimstad, 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 $51.0 in Grimstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $390 – 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 Grimstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grimstad 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,573 in Grimstad. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $269 in Grimstad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Grimstad, 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 $869, than in Grimstad at $2,382. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grimstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,382 in Grimstad. 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, Grimstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.