Cost of Living Comparison Between Norsup and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Norsup and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,376 per month in Norsup vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,229 per month in Norsup vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,082 per month in Norsup vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Norsup costs about 256% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Norsup sits 146% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 VUV 497

$1.96 ฿64.4

120.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 VUV 497

$1.50 ฿49.39

187.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.34 VUV 500

$1.34 ฿43.93

223.88%

Eggs

$5.21 VUV 600

$2.26 ฿74.5

130.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.73 VUV 1,467

$16.26 ฿535

-21.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 VUV 957

$2.95 ฿97.1

181.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.02 VUV 1,731

$9.94 ฿327

51.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 VUV 482

$2.57 ฿84.6

63.04%

Banana (1kg)

$4.12 VUV 474

$1.06 ฿34.73

288.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 VUV 475

$1.61 ฿53.0

155.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 VUV 492

$1.52 ฿49.97

180.92%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 VUV 498

$1.27 ฿41.77

240.16%

Onion (1kg)

$4.30 VUV 496

$1.07 ฿35.06

301.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.10 VUV 472

$0.72 ฿23.68

469.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.14 VUV 477

$0.51 ฿16.72

711.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.92 VUV 1,950

$4.19 ฿138

303.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 VUV 1,934

$17.87 ฿587

-6.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.13 VUV 476

$1.69 ฿55.7

144.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 VUV 492

$2.84 ฿93.3

50.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿705.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿898.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,093

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,933 VUV 338.0K

$289 ฿9,512

913.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$295 VUV 34.0K

$602 ฿19.8K

-51.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Norsup: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 104% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Norsup vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Norsup costs about 256% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,065 per month in Norsup and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,376 in Norsup and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 101% more in Norsup, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Norsup at $3,376. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Norsup it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $3,376 in Norsup. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Norsup makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.