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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,930 in Jessheim, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,171 in Jessheim, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,411 in Jessheim, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 68% cheaper than Jessheim, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Jessheim is 112% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$21.93 NOK 203

-90.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$82.0 NOK 760

-75.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$16.03 NOK 149

-63.88%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$6.21 NOK 57.6

-70.53%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$4.05 NOK 37.59

-80.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$3.20 NOK 29.70

-90.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$10.99 NOK 102

-78.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$12.99 NOK 120

-71.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.63 NOK 24.38

-22.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$4.20 NOK 38.94

-61.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.64 NOK 24.48

-46.21%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.80 NOK 35.21

-42.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$15.24 NOK 141

4.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$15.61 NOK 145

-80.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$30.91 NOK 287

-68.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.31 NOK 30.72

-20.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.72 NOK 25.19

-59.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$3.55 NOK 32.90

-54.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.37 NOK 40.55

-64.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.75 NOK 25.54

-54.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.87 NOK 26.66

-60.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$3.12 NOK 28.93

-76.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$2.52 NOK 23.38

-80.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$19.12 NOK 177

-77.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$17.00 NOK 158

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$3.66 NOK 33.97

-53.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$4.49 NOK 41.67

-35.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$4.68 NOK 43.37

-79.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$100 NOK 932

-44.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$12.51 NOK 116

-90.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.91 NOK 17.68

-72.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$72.2 NOK 669

-96.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.35 NOK 21.83

-38.72%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$49.2K NOK 456.5K

-56.93%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$41.8K NOK 387.4K

-34.62%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$424 NOK 3,935

-84.69%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$33.77 NOK 313

-60.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$57.0 NOK 529

-63.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$16.97 NOK 157

-60.46%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$248 NOK 2,300

217.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$16.1K NOK 149.1K

-5.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$105 NOK 971

-46.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$62.9 NOK 583

-60.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$129 NOK 1,194

-27.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$162 NOK 1,506

-53.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$1,398 NOK 13.0K

-65.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$1,152 NOK 10.7K

-75.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,979 NOK 18.4K

-54.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,792 NOK 16.6K

-70.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$8,279 NOK 76.8K

-76.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$3,969 NOK 36.8K

-84.75%

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 Jessheim: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $1,398 in Jessheim. 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 556% higher in Jessheim, 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 $82.0 in Jessheim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $497 – 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 Jessheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jessheim costs about 208% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,395 in Jessheim. 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $248 in Jessheim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Jessheim, 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 $950, than in Jessheim at $2,930. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jessheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,930 in Jessheim. 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, Jessheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.