😐A single person spends $2,258 per month in Elverum vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,476 per month in Elverum vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,693 per month in Elverum vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Elverum costs about 161% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Elverum sits 69% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.46NOK 209
$1.94฿63.5
1057.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 952
$18.64฿609
449.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.48NOK 107
$7.82฿255
46.80%
Cappuccino
$4.67NOK 43.39
$1.95฿63.8
139.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.02
$0.85฿27.77
317.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99NOK 27.78
$0.35฿11.58
754.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.79NOK 100
$2.13฿69.6
406.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03NOK 74.6
$3.73฿122
115.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08NOK 10.06
$1.71฿56.0
-36.84%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57NOK 33.17
$1.63฿53.2
119.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.92NOK 36.39
$1.14฿37.15
243.86%
Eggs
$1.80NOK 16.76
$1.93฿63.1
-6.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.27NOK 67.5
$16.21฿530
-55.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95NOK 111
$3.12฿102
283.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.08NOK 233
$10.90฿356
130.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.55
$2.75฿90.0
-62.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.82
$1.21฿39.52
138.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56NOK 14.45
$1.62฿53.0
-3.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49NOK 13.88
$1.59฿51.8
-6.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.60
$1.40฿45.70
-26.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99NOK 9.21
$1.17฿38.17
-15.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49NOK 23.15
$0.66฿21.60
277.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53NOK 23.53
$0.53฿17.22
377.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.48NOK 135
$4.69฿153
208.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.71NOK 174
$18.66฿609
0.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.80NOK 35.34
$1.80฿58.8
111.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62NOK 42.88
$3.23฿106
43.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.35NOK 40.45
$0.90฿29.26
383.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7NOK 685
$19.21฿628
283.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.15NOK 141
$1.41฿45.91
974.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.01
$1.29฿42.12
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.0NOK 808
$7.84฿256
1010.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 20.35
$1.27฿41.58
72.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNOK 301.1K
$21.3K฿694.9K
52.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KNOK 329.4K
$22.2K฿725.4K
59.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101NOK 935
$69.1฿2,256
45.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.61NOK 387
$14.08฿460
195.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7NOK 601
$18.00฿588
259.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.85NOK 463
$41.06฿1,341
21.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.05NOK 326
$6.96฿227
403.59%
Cinema Ticket
$11.97NOK 111
$5.92฿193
102.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319NOK 2,961
$299฿9,766
6.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,623NOK 80.1K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-42.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111NOK 1,031
$54.7฿1,787
102.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.29NOK 458
$26.77฿874
84.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,169
$85.0฿2,776
48.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,202
$70.6฿2,306
83.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,203NOK 11.2K
$428฿14.0K
181.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910NOK 8,453
$237฿7,752
283.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802NOK 16.7K
$801฿26.2K
124.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,513NOK 14.1K
$515฿16.8K
193.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,127NOK 56.9K
$1,975฿64.5K
210.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,578NOK 42.5K
$1,475฿48.2K
210.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,399NOK 40.9K
$617฿20.2K
612.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
5
-13.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Elverum: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Elverum versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 613% higher in Elverum, 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 $102 in Elverum versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $246 – 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
Elverum vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Elverum or Chiang Mai?
Elverum costs about 161% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Elverum vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,387 per month in Elverum and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Elverum or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Elverum and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Elverum and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Elverum or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Elverum, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Elverum or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Elverum at $2,258. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elverum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Elverum or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,258 in Elverum. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Elverum compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Elverum or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elverum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.