Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kongsberg and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,733 in Kongsberg, rent and utilities included – about $21,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kongsberg, Norway
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kongsberg
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,733
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kongsberg 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 Kongsberg and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,733 per month in Kongsberg vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kongsberg $2,733
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $4,003 per month in Kongsberg vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kongsberg $4,003
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $5,273 per month in Kongsberg vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kongsberg $5,273
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Kongsberg costs about 192% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kongsberg sits 101% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54 NOK 200
$2.24 ฿75.6
861.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 NOK 691
$19.00 ฿641
292.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.41 NOK 152
$5.55 ฿187
195.68%
Cappuccino
$5.31 NOK 49.18
$1.67 ฿56.5
217.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 NOK 41.78
$0.64 ฿21.53
604.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 NOK 31.09
$0.31 ฿10.30
980.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.01 NOK 111
$2.36 ฿79.5
408.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.81 NOK 100
$3.66 ฿124
195.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.60 NOK 24.09
$1.95 ฿65.7
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 NOK 29.58
$1.44 ฿48.45
121.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.75 NOK 44.05
$1.33 ฿45.01
257.14%
Eggs
$5.14 NOK 47.68
$2.28 ฿77.0
125.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.90 NOK 101
$16.45 ฿555
-33.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.75 NOK 118
$2.78 ฿93.8
358.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.75 NOK 174
$9.31 ฿314
101.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 NOK 29.73
$2.35 ฿79.4
36.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 NOK 25.64
$0.97 ฿32.78
185.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 NOK 32.17
$1.60 ฿53.9
116.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.07 NOK 47.02
$1.50 ฿50.6
238.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 NOK 24.38
$1.28 ฿43.10
105.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 NOK 24.42
$1.10 ฿37.17
140.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.18 NOK 29.49
$0.71 ฿23.81
347.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 NOK 23.48
$0.49 ฿16.36
416.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.99 NOK 167
$4.14 ฿140
334.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 NOK 152
$17.52 ฿591
-6.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64 NOK 33.76
$1.61 ฿54.5
126.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 NOK 36.20
$2.78 ฿93.9
40.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.17 NOK 29.37
$0.87 ฿29.29
264.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.9 NOK 889
$54.1 ฿1,825
77.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.11 NOK 112
$1.16 ฿39.03
943.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 NOK 17.00
$0.53 ฿17.79
245.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.51 NOK 301
$2.42 ฿81.7
1243.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.39 NOK 22.17
$1.45 ฿48.87
64.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.5K NOK 458.4K
$21.1K ฿710.3K
134.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.5K NOK 421.5K
$26.9K ฿908.7K
68.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$318 NOK 2,950
$62.2 ฿2,097
411.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.53 NOK 264
$12.17 ฿410
134.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 NOK 505
$20.12 ฿679
170.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.00 NOK 445
$37.31 ฿1,259
28.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.5 NOK 543
$3.77 ฿127
1452.52%
Cinema Ticket
$20.59 NOK 191
$6.49 ฿219
217.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$245 NOK 2,269
$736 ฿24.8K
-66.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,922 NOK 36.3K
$14.8K ฿498.0K
-73.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.0 NOK 872
$53.4 ฿1,800
76.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 NOK 511
$24.64 ฿831
123.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NOK 1,244
$91.5 ฿3,086
46.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 NOK 1,473
$71.9 ฿2,426
120.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 NOK 9,965
$482 ฿16.3K
122.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 NOK 9,994
$309 ฿10.4K
249.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,973 NOK 18.3K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
96.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 NOK 16.2K
$633 ฿21.4K
176.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,377 NOK 59.1K
$2,363 ฿79.7K
169.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,352 NOK 40.3K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
173.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,667 NOK 34.0K
$590 ฿19.9K
521.83%
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 Kongsberg: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$309 71.3% $769
Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
$437
Chiang Mai
$234 46.4% $203
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
$401
Chiang Mai
$94 76.5% $307
Eating Out
Kongsberg
$398
Chiang Mai
$78 80.5% $321
Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
$199
Chiang Mai
$109 45.4% $90
Getting Around
Kongsberg
$130
Chiang Mai
$61 52.7% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
$89
Chiang Mai
$50 43.6% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,075 in Kongsberg 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.

Salaries in Kongsberg are about 6.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Kongsberg versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $437 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Kongsberg
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
14:56 2:56 PM
20:56 8:56 PM
6 h ahead of Kongsberg
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,878
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 November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.27 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 NOK (100 NOK = 9.67 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kongsberg Chiang Mai 8,180 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kongsberg
  • 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
Kongsberg vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kongsberg or Chiang Mai?
Kongsberg costs about 192% 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 Kongsberg and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,100 per month in Kongsberg 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, Kongsberg or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,075 in Kongsberg.
How do childcare costs compare in Kongsberg and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $245 per month in Kongsberg 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 Kongsberg or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 87% more in Kongsberg, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Kongsberg or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,733 in Kongsberg 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: Kongsberg 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 $2,733 in Kongsberg. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Kongsberg 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.
Should I move to Kongsberg or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kongsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kongsberg vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?