😐A single person spends $2,597 per month in Larvik vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,061 per month in Larvik vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,525 per month in Larvik vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Larvik costs about 179% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Larvik sits 90% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.32NOK 201
$2.08฿69.2
925.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,229
$19.61฿652
565.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.33NOK 154
$5.67฿189
188.01%
Cappuccino
$6.09NOK 57.4
$1.81฿60.0
236.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.58
$0.77฿25.55
432.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.65
$0.35฿11.48
891.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.92NOK 112
$2.21฿73.6
439.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.91NOK 122
$3.79฿126
240.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.38
$2.05฿68.1
26.34%
White Bread(500g)
$4.14NOK 38.99
$1.51฿50.4
174.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60NOK 15.05
$1.40฿46.51
14.29%
Eggs
$3.81NOK 35.86
$2.26฿75.1
68.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10NOK 142
$16.19฿538
-6.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.72NOK 148
$2.90฿96.3
442.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.37NOK 286
$9.42฿313
222.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31NOK 31.22
$2.68฿89.1
23.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76NOK 25.99
$1.09฿36.23
153.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61NOK 24.57
$1.62฿53.8
61.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51NOK 42.48
$1.46฿48.55
208.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.72NOK 25.67
$1.28฿42.48
112.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87NOK 27.00
$1.06฿35.17
170.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73NOK 25.72
$0.72฿23.85
279.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58NOK 14.87
$0.53฿17.49
198.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.84NOK 140
$4.23฿141
250.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.79NOK 158
$18.29฿608
-8.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46NOK 32.62
$1.63฿54.2
112.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18NOK 39.38
$2.90฿96.5
44.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.76NOK 44.81
$0.88฿29.20
440.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8NOK 601
$53.8฿1,788
18.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.53NOK 89.8
$1.17฿38.99
714.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63NOK 15.36
$0.58฿19.22
181.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$70.9NOK 668
$2.39฿79.3
2867.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.35NOK 22.11
$1.45฿48.22
62.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6KNOK 401.2K
$21.0K฿698.6K
102.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.7KNOK 430.9K
$26.4K฿878.6K
73.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$298NOK 2,807
$63.7฿2,116
368.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.40NOK 202
$12.89฿429
66.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.05NOK 396
$20.52฿682
104.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8NOK 488
$39.02฿1,297
32.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.29NOK 351
$3.92฿130
851.28%
Cinema Ticket
$15.93NOK 150
$6.58฿219
142.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160NOK 1,510
$784฿26.1K
-79.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KNOK 147.5K
$14.7K฿487.9K
6.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.8NOK 695
$55.1฿1,833
33.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3NOK 587
$24.74฿823
151.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109NOK 1,029
$94.1฿3,130
16.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,215
$74.0฿2,459
74.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256NOK 11.8K
$490฿16.3K
156.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,023NOK 9,640
$288฿9,582
255.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,025NOK 19.1K
$891฿29.6K
127.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,716NOK 16.2K
$521฿17.3K
229.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,320NOK 59.5K
$1,974฿65.6K
220.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,176NOK 39.3K
$1,444฿48.0K
189.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,269NOK 30.8K
$602฿20.0K
443.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
5.57
-14.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Larvik: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Larvik versus $490 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 443% higher in Larvik, 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 $130 in Larvik versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $241 – 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
Larvik vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Larvik or Chiang Mai?
Larvik costs about 179% 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 Larvik and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,896 per month in Larvik and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Larvik 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 Larvik and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $160 per month in Larvik and $784 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 Larvik or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 96% more in Larvik, 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 Larvik or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Larvik at $2,597. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Larvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Larvik or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,597 in Larvik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Larvik 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 Larvik or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Larvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.