😐A single person spends $2,213 per month in Elverum vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,480 per month in Elverum vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,748 per month in Elverum vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Elverum costs about 157% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Elverum sits 66% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.42NOK 216
$1.96฿65.7
1043.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 982
$18.35฿616
455.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.47NOK 110
$7.48฿251
53.34%
Cappuccino
$4.43NOK 42.69
$2.02฿67.7
119.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61NOK 34.76
$0.85฿28.45
324.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90NOK 27.96
$0.36฿11.94
705.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.72NOK 103
$2.14฿71.7
400.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08NOK 77.8
$3.59฿121
125.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14NOK 10.98
$1.65฿55.4
-30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$3.47NOK 33.39
$1.57฿52.6
121.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93NOK 37.85
$1.19฿39.95
230.25%
Eggs
$1.84NOK 17.71
$1.94฿65.0
-5.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.04NOK 67.8
$16.19฿544
-56.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.22NOK 118
$2.99฿100
308.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.00NOK 241
$10.94฿367
128.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.94
$2.71฿91.0
-61.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.99NOK 28.80
$1.17฿39.18
155.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49NOK 14.34
$1.69฿56.6
-11.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49NOK 14.40
$1.60฿53.9
-6.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04NOK 10.02
$1.38฿46.45
-24.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98NOK 9.48
$1.20฿40.38
-18.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 24.07
$0.67฿22.46
273.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.43NOK 23.38
$0.56฿18.70
333.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.44NOK 139
$4.64฿156
211.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.70NOK 171
$17.62฿591
0.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82NOK 36.82
$1.86฿62.4
105.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73NOK 45.55
$3.30฿111
43.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.22NOK 40.68
$0.88฿29.63
379.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0NOK 704
$19.34฿649
277.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.01NOK 145
$1.36฿45.82
1003.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19NOK 21.05
$1.34฿44.90
63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$90.2NOK 868
$8.21฿276
998.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.40
$1.22฿41.11
73.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KNOK 306.7K
$21.4K฿716.8K
49.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KNOK 346.1K
$22.5K฿756.3K
59.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102NOK 983
$70.7฿2,372
44.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.58NOK 401
$14.04฿471
196.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6NOK 632
$17.49฿587
275.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.71NOK 479
$42.15฿1,415
17.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.10NOK 348
$6.88฿231
424.71%
Cinema Ticket
$12.32NOK 119
$5.92฿199
108.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319NOK 3,076
$309฿10.4K
3.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,468NOK 81.6K
$14.9K฿499.5K
-43.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109NOK 1,053
$55.8฿1,872
96.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.19NOK 474
$26.11฿877
88.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125NOK 1,208
$83.0฿2,787
51.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,247
$70.5฿2,365
83.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,226NOK 11.8K
$432฿14.5K
183.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$884NOK 8,516
$239฿8,020
270.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,832NOK 17.7K
$822฿27.6K
122.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509NOK 14.5K
$512฿17.2K
194.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,711NOK 55.0K
$1,915฿64.3K
198.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,995NOK 38.5K
$1,467฿49.3K
172.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,076NOK 39.3K
$579฿19.4K
603.49%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,226 in Elverum versus $432 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 603% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $243 – 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 157% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,319 per month in Elverum and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Elverum and $309 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 in 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Elverum at $2,213. 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 $861 versus $2,213 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 to 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.