😐A single person spends $2,814 per month in Elverum vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,190 per month in Elverum vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,566 per month in Elverum vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Elverum costs about 196% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Elverum sits 104% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.91NOK 194
$2.10฿69.3
895.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,020
$19.84฿656
454.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.87NOK 147
$5.79฿191
174.09%
Cappuccino
$5.73NOK 53.2
$1.83฿60.4
213.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67NOK 52.6
$0.78฿25.61
626.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36NOK 40.41
$0.31฿10.37
1306.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.42NOK 124
$2.34฿77.2
473.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.25NOK 123
$3.70฿122
258.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50NOK 23.23
$2.03฿67.1
23.15%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48NOK 32.24
$1.60฿52.7
117.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84NOK 35.58
$1.42฿46.75
170.42%
Eggs
$5.02NOK 46.60
$2.18฿71.9
130.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.17NOK 122
$15.91฿526
-17.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.51NOK 153
$3.07฿102
437.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.70NOK 303
$9.87฿326
231.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97NOK 36.82
$2.63฿86.8
50.95%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00NOK 27.81
$1.10฿36.19
172.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.93NOK 36.42
$1.63฿53.8
141.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.85NOK 54.2
$1.53฿50.6
282.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84NOK 26.37
$1.24฿41.13
129.03%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17NOK 29.37
$1.13฿37.37
180.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.86NOK 26.49
$0.74฿24.38
286.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32NOK 21.53
$0.50฿16.48
364.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.63NOK 164
$4.28฿141
311.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.46NOK 171
$17.97฿594
2.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73NOK 34.56
$1.70฿56.1
119.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67NOK 43.30
$2.90฿95.7
61.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.73NOK 43.88
$0.94฿31.13
403.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.9NOK 806
$55.3฿1,827
57.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.27NOK 86.0
$1.23฿40.76
653.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67NOK 15.49
$0.53฿17.66
215.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.9NOK 555
$2.40฿79.3
2395.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.28
$1.44฿47.55
59.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8KNOK 434.4K
$21.2K฿700.2K
120.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.1KNOK 428.1K
$27.3K฿902.1K
68.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$273NOK 2,532
$64.9฿2,145
320.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.44NOK 338
$13.35฿441
172.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.2NOK 790
$20.83฿688
308.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.0NOK 464
$40.42฿1,336
23.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.71NOK 350
$3.95฿131
854.68%
Cinema Ticket
$21.19NOK 197
$6.71฿222
215.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,798
$787฿26.0K
-61.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,497NOK 41.7K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-70.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111NOK 1,032
$56.2฿1,858
97.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3NOK 476
$24.95฿824
105.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123NOK 1,144
$92.7฿3,063
33.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,493
$75.1฿2,482
114.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,242NOK 11.5K
$484฿16.0K
156.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,020NOK 9,465
$287฿9,491
255.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,011NOK 18.7K
$910฿30.1K
121.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,721NOK 16.0K
$531฿17.5K
224.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,340NOK 58.8K
$1,980฿65.4K
220.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,262NOK 39.5K
$1,451฿47.9K
193.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elverum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,351NOK 40.4K
$605฿20.0K
618.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
5.57
-4.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Elverum: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,242 in Elverum versus $484 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 619% 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 $110 in Elverum versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $517 vs $242 – 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 196% 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 $4,221 per month in Elverum and $1,426 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 $302 per month in Elverum and $787 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 113% 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 $950, than in Elverum at $2,814. 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 $950 versus $2,814 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.