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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,217 per month in Grimstad vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,795 per month in Grimstad vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,373 per month in Grimstad vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Grimstad costs about 133% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Grimstad sits 61% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.54 NOK 200

$2.10 ฿69.4

925.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 NOK 738

$19.84 ฿656

300.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.52 NOK 144

$5.79 ฿192

168.05%

Cappuccino

$4.83 NOK 44.89

$1.83 ฿60.5

163.93%

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

$4.34 NOK 40.32

$0.78 ฿25.63

456.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 NOK 32.72

$0.31 ฿10.38

1035.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.77 NOK 109

$2.34 ฿77.3

402.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.92 NOK 101

$3.70 ฿122

195.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.60 NOK 24.13

$2.03 ฿67.1

28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 NOK 34.89

$1.60 ฿52.8

135.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 NOK 29.25

$1.42 ฿46.80

121.83%

Eggs

$3.62 NOK 33.61

$2.18 ฿72.0

66.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 NOK 124

$15.91 ฿526

-16.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.60 NOK 136

$3.07 ฿102

375.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.16 NOK 234

$9.87 ฿326

154.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NOK 20.28

$2.63 ฿86.9

-17.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 NOK 22.13

$1.10 ฿36.23

116.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 NOK 32.53

$1.63 ฿53.9

114.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 NOK 40.96

$1.53 ฿50.6

188.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 NOK 25.85

$1.24 ฿41.16

124.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 NOK 27.69

$1.13 ฿37.40

163.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.20 NOK 29.76

$0.74 ฿24.41

332.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 NOK 17.96

$0.50 ฿16.50

286.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.65 NOK 183

$4.28 ฿142

359.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.93 NOK 148

$17.97 ฿594

-11.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.48 NOK 32.34

$1.70 ฿56.2

104.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 NOK 41.24

$2.90 ฿95.8

53.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.53 NOK 51.4

$0.94 ฿31.15

488.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.2 NOK 885

$55.3 ฿1,828

72.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.33 NOK 115

$1.23 ฿40.80

902.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 NOK 17.15

$0.53 ฿17.67

249.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.1 NOK 660

$2.40 ฿79.4

2861.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.25 NOK 20.91

$1.44 ฿47.60

56.25%

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

$49.3K NOK 457.6K

$21.2K ฿700.9K

132.42%

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

$46.3K NOK 429.7K

$27.3K ฿903.0K

69.41%

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

$317 NOK 2,947

$64.9 ฿2,147

388.62%

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

$33.46 NOK 311

$13.35 ฿442

150.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.6 NOK 535

$20.83 ฿689

176.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.15 NOK 401

$40.42 ฿1,337

6.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$16.42 NOK 153

$6.71 ฿222

144.71%

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

$254 NOK 2,358

$787 ฿26.0K

-67.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K NOK 151.2K

$15.1K ฿500.1K

7.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.7 NOK 908

$56.2 ฿1,859

73.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 NOK 505

$24.95 ฿825

118.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 NOK 999

$92.7 ฿3,066

15.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 NOK 1,469

$75.1 ฿2,484

110.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 NOK 8,541

$484 ฿16.0K

90.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 NOK 4,971

$287 ฿9,500

86.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 NOK 18.5K

$910 ฿30.1K

118.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 NOK 17.0K

$531 ฿17.5K

244.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,773 NOK 44.3K

$1,980 ฿65.5K

141.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,457 NOK 32.1K

$1,451 ฿48.0K

138.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,632 NOK 43.0K

$605 ฿20.0K

665.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.9

5.57

-12.03%

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

Last update for Grimstad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Grimstad 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 665% higher in Grimstad, 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 $79.0 in Grimstad versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 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

Grimstad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grimstad costs about 133% 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 $3,326 per month in Grimstad and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. 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 $254 per month in Grimstad and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 85% more in Grimstad, 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 Grimstad at $2,217. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grimstad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,217 in Grimstad. 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, Grimstad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.