Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Holmestrand and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,962 in Holmestrand, rent and utilities included – about $24,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Holmestrand, Norway
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Holmestrand
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,962
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Holmestrand and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Holmestrand and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,962 per month in Holmestrand vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Holmestrand $2,962
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $4,320 per month in Holmestrand vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Holmestrand $4,320
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $5,678 per month in Holmestrand vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Holmestrand $5,678
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Holmestrand costs about 217% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Holmestrand sits 118% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.38 NOK 199
$2.24 ฿75.7
854.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129 NOK 1,202
$19.00 ฿642
580.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.34 NOK 152
$5.55 ฿188
194.41%
Cappuccino
$5.96 NOK 55.3
$1.67 ฿56.6
256.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 NOK 42.02
$0.64 ฿21.56
606.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 NOK 32.63
$0.31 ฿10.32
1032.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.99 NOK 111
$2.36 ฿79.6
408.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.82 NOK 119
$3.66 ฿124
250.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.63 NOK 24.39
$1.95 ฿65.8
34.87%
White Bread (500g)
$4.35 NOK 40.40
$1.44 ฿48.51
202.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.82 NOK 44.80
$1.33 ฿45.07
262.41%
Eggs
$6.16 NOK 57.3
$2.28 ฿77.1
170.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.02 NOK 140
$16.45 ฿556
-8.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.70 NOK 146
$2.78 ฿94.0
464.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.92 NOK 297
$9.31 ฿314
242.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.45 NOK 32.03
$2.35 ฿79.5
46.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 NOK 24.94
$0.97 ฿32.82
176.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 NOK 33.78
$1.60 ฿53.9
127.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.00 NOK 55.8
$1.50 ฿50.7
300.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 NOK 25.64
$1.28 ฿43.15
115.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 NOK 26.87
$1.10 ฿37.22
162.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.25 NOK 30.18
$0.71 ฿23.84
357.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 NOK 22.67
$0.49 ฿16.38
397.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.30 NOK 179
$4.14 ฿140
366.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.17 NOK 160
$17.52 ฿592
-2.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45 NOK 32.04
$1.61 ฿54.5
114.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 NOK 39.60
$2.78 ฿94.0
53.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.21 NOK 39.11
$0.87 ฿29.33
383.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.4 NOK 887
$54.1 ฿1,827
76.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.16 NOK 113
$1.16 ฿39.08
948.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NOK 17.23
$0.53 ฿17.82
249.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.0 NOK 659
$2.42 ฿81.8
2832.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.51 NOK 23.36
$1.45 ฿48.93
73.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.9K NOK 463.8K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
137.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K NOK 415.8K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
66.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$436 NOK 4,055
$62.2 ฿2,100
602.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.38 NOK 319
$12.17 ฿411
182.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 NOK 519
$20.12 ฿680
177.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.21 NOK 411
$37.31 ฿1,260
18.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.90 NOK 399
$3.77 ฿127
1037.93%
Cinema Ticket
$20.72 NOK 193
$6.49 ฿219
219.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$244 NOK 2,268
$736 ฿24.9K
-66.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K NOK 149.9K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
9.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 NOK 960
$53.4 ฿1,802
93.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 NOK 578
$24.64 ฿832
152.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NOK 1,242
$91.5 ฿3,089
46.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 NOK 1,504
$71.9 ฿2,429
124.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 NOK 9,889
$482 ฿16.3K
120.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,072 NOK 9,955
$309 ฿10.4K
246.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,238 NOK 20.8K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
122.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 NOK 13.9K
$633 ฿21.4K
136.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,639 NOK 52.4K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
138.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,569 NOK 42.5K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
187.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holmestrand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.94
5.57
-11.31%

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

Last update for Holmestrand: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Holmestrand
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$309 71.2% $763
Groceries & Markets
Holmestrand
$527
Chiang Mai
$234 55.6% $293
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holmestrand
$527
Chiang Mai
$94 82.1% $432
Eating Out
Holmestrand
$409
Chiang Mai
$78 81% $332
Clothing & Footwear
Holmestrand
$207
Chiang Mai
$109 47.6% $99
Getting Around
Holmestrand
$134
Chiang Mai
$61 54.1% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Holmestrand
$86
Chiang Mai
$50 41.3% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,064 in Holmestrand versus $482 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $129 in Holmestrand versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $527 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Holmestrand
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
00:14 12:14 AM
06:14 6:14 AM
6 h ahead of Holmestrand
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,932
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.29 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 NOK (100 NOK = 9.67 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Holmestrand Chiang Mai 8,150 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Holmestrand
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Holmestrand vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Holmestrand or Chiang Mai?
Holmestrand costs about 217% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Holmestrand and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,442 per month in Holmestrand and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Holmestrand or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,064 in Holmestrand.
How do childcare costs compare in Holmestrand and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $244 per month in Holmestrand and $736 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 Holmestrand or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 125% more in Holmestrand, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Holmestrand or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,962 in Holmestrand and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Holmestrand or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $2,962 in Holmestrand. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Holmestrand compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 68% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Holmestrand vs other spots: cost of living compared

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