😐A single person spends $2,257 per month in Larvik vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Larvik vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,498 per month in Larvik vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Larvik costs about 167% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Larvik sits 68% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.92NOK 269
$1.95฿62.8
1383.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.4NOK 925
$18.43฿594
439.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.21NOK 123
$7.50฿241
76.13%
Cappuccino
$5.00NOK 46.47
$1.93฿62.3
159.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53NOK 23.55
$0.78฿25.08
224.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22NOK 20.68
$0.32฿10.42
593.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.33NOK 86.8
$2.15฿69.2
333.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.81NOK 91.2
$3.71฿120
164.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.40
$1.71฿55.2
22.22%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31NOK 30.74
$1.56฿50.3
112.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55NOK 14.45
$1.18฿38.06
31.36%
Eggs
$3.56NOK 33.09
$1.98฿63.9
79.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.55NOK 107
$16.04฿517
-27.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.22NOK 132
$3.17฿102
348.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.85NOK 287
$10.94฿353
181.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07NOK 28.56
$2.63฿84.7
16.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26NOK 21.03
$1.17฿37.61
93.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.06
$1.65฿53.0
50.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19NOK 38.99
$1.54฿49.51
172.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29NOK 21.34
$1.38฿44.34
65.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.03
$1.17฿37.54
83.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52NOK 23.39
$0.66฿21.25
281.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56NOK 14.51
$0.51฿16.55
205.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32NOK 133
$4.52฿146
216.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.99NOK 167
$18.32฿590
-1.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 30.67
$1.80฿57.9
83.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 37.92
$3.18฿102
28.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.17NOK 38.78
$0.90฿28.97
363.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.8NOK 565
$19.00฿612
220.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.94NOK 83.2
$1.41฿45.50
534.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32NOK 12.24
$1.31฿42.15
0.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 952
$8.09฿261
1165.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.77
$1.28฿41.08
66.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KNOK 382.6K
$21.3K฿686.1K
93.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.7KNOK 471.7K
$21.7K฿699.3K
133.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222NOK 2,060
$69.2฿2,230
220.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.38NOK 190
$13.97฿450
45.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61NOK 350
$17.95฿578
109.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0NOK 474
$42.31฿1,363
20.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.79NOK 370
$6.66฿214
497.45%
Cinema Ticket
$15.22NOK 142
$5.92฿191
157.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150NOK 1,397
$299฿9,640
-49.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 93.1K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-32.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2NOK 671
$56.2฿1,810
28.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.26NOK 440
$26.94฿868
75.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.4NOK 924
$84.9฿2,735
17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121NOK 1,125
$71.8฿2,314
68.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,216NOK 11.3K
$435฿14.0K
179.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$800NOK 7,437
$240฿7,727
233.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,391NOK 12.9K
$798฿25.7K
74.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,129NOK 10.5K
$498฿16.1K
126.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,113NOK 56.9K
$1,995฿64.3K
206.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,624NOK 43.0K
$1,532฿49.4K
201.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Larvik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,272NOK 30.4K
$628฿20.2K
420.81%
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,216 in Larvik versus $435 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 421% 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 $99 in Larvik versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $244 – 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 167% 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 $3,386 per month in Larvik and $1,267 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 $150 per month in Larvik and $299 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 78% 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 $845, than in Larvik at $2,257. 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 $845 versus $2,257 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.