😐A single person spends $2,225 per month in Larvik vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,348 per month in Larvik vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,471 per month in Larvik vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Larvik costs about 162% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Larvik sits 67% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.20NOK 277
$1.96฿63.6
1389.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 974
$18.39฿598
459.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.52NOK 128
$7.87฿256
71.79%
Cappuccino
$5.04NOK 47.78
$1.95฿63.4
158.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47NOK 23.36
$0.85฿27.57
190.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19NOK 20.78
$0.32฿10.52
584.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.96NOK 84.9
$2.14฿69.6
318.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.65NOK 91.5
$3.68฿120
162.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.86
$1.66฿53.9
26.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.33NOK 31.57
$1.56฿50.7
113.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51NOK 14.28
$1.19฿38.63
26.89%
Eggs
$3.56NOK 33.70
$1.99฿64.7
78.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.20NOK 106
$16.24฿528
-31.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.94NOK 132
$3.17฿103
339.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.96NOK 284
$10.84฿352
176.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07NOK 29.10
$2.65฿86.2
15.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NOK 22.08
$1.22฿39.67
90.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61NOK 24.68
$1.65฿53.7
58.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20NOK 39.82
$1.55฿50.3
170.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21NOK 20.95
$1.33฿43.17
66.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24NOK 21.18
$1.21฿39.43
85.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.43
$0.68฿22.04
263.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55NOK 14.72
$0.57฿18.38
171.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.07NOK 133
$4.68฿152
200.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.11NOK 172
$16.99฿552
6.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32NOK 31.45
$1.82฿59.3
82.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86NOK 36.61
$3.18฿103
21.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.13NOK 39.16
$0.91฿29.46
353.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.5NOK 573
$18.74฿609
222.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.33NOK 88.4
$1.41฿45.80
561.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35NOK 12.82
$1.34฿43.52
0.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 961
$8.14฿265
1146.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.81
$1.28฿41.53
71.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8KNOK 377.2K
$21.8K฿709.3K
82.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$51.0KNOK 483.3K
$22.4K฿728.0K
127.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216NOK 2,043
$70.5฿2,291
206.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.06NOK 190
$14.05฿457
42.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.04NOK 360
$17.65฿574
115.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3NOK 486
$41.29฿1,342
24.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.74NOK 376
$6.76฿220
487.87%
Cinema Ticket
$14.88NOK 141
$5.96฿194
149.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152NOK 1,440
$303฿9,846
-49.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 95.8K
$15.0K฿486.2K
-32.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7NOK 679
$54.7฿1,778
31.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.16NOK 456
$26.29฿854
83.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0NOK 928
$85.8฿2,788
14.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120NOK 1,135
$69.7฿2,265
71.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,212NOK 11.5K
$428฿13.9K
183.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$824NOK 7,802
$239฿7,769
244.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,357NOK 12.9K
$811฿26.4K
67.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109NOK 10.5K
$510฿16.6K
117.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,001NOK 56.8K
$2,025฿65.8K
196.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,175NOK 39.5K
$1,502฿48.8K
177.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,236NOK 30.7K
$623฿20.2K
419.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
5
-12.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Larvik: June 15, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,212 in Larvik versus $428 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 420% 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 $103 in Larvik versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 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
Larvik vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Larvik or Chiang Mai?
Larvik costs about 162% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,337 per month in Larvik and $1,272 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Larvik and $303 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 77% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Larvik at $2,225. 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 $848 versus $2,225 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 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.