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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,442 in Molde, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,697 in Molde, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,952 in Molde, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 62% cheaper than Molde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Molde is 79% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$30.59 NOK 288

-93.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$85.8 NOK 808

-77.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$15.94 NOK 150

-64.43%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$5.17 NOK 48.70

-64.99%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$3.29 NOK 31.01

-76.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$3.58 NOK 33.70

-90.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$11.67 NOK 110

-81.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$10.52 NOK 99.2

-63.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$3.13 NOK 29.46

-34.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$4.23 NOK 39.85

-64.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$4.11 NOK 38.69

-65.94%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$5.24 NOK 49.35

-56.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$18.57 NOK 175

-12.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$16.04 NOK 151

-81.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.48 NOK 32.76

-22.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$3.28 NOK 30.89

-66.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$3.08 NOK 28.97

-47.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$4.93 NOK 46.41

-70.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$2.63 NOK 24.80

-51.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$2.43 NOK 22.88

-56.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$2.77 NOK 26.05

-74.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$20.59 NOK 194

-79.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$23.72 NOK 223

-22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$4.17 NOK 39.25

-60.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$8.19 NOK 77.1

-64.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$5.20 NOK 48.98

-83.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$84.8 NOK 798

-36.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$16.35 NOK 154

-92.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$2.31 NOK 21.75

-37.23%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

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

$12.89 ฿429

$21.65 NOK 204

-40.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$84.4 NOK 795

-75.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$59.7 NOK 563

-34.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$18.95 NOK 178

-65.28%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$214 NOK 2,013

266.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$113 NOK 1,060

-51.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$139 NOK 1,305

-32.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$162 NOK 1,529

-54.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$1,288 NOK 12.1K

-61.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$981 NOK 9,241

-70.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$1,899 NOK 17.9K

-53.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,678 NOK 15.8K

-68.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$4,356 NOK 41.0K

-86.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.8

16.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Molde: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,288 in Molde. 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 624% higher in Molde, 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 $86.0 in Molde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $429 – 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 Molde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Molde costs about 162% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,663 in Molde. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $214 in Molde. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 78% more in Molde, 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 $932, than in Molde at $2,442. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Molde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,442 in Molde. 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, Molde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.