Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Norsup and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $3,454 in Norsup, rent and utilities included – about $30,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Norsup outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Norsup

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

$3,454

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,454 per month in Norsup vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Norsup $3,454
Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $2,272 per month in Norsup vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Norsup $2,272
Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,091 per month in Norsup vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Norsup $1,091
Chiang Mai $1,914

Norsup costs about 268% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Norsup sits 155% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$4.16 VUV 488

$1.95 ฿65.3

113.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 VUV 506

$1.41 ฿47.03

205.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 VUV 494

$1.31 ฿43.62

221.37%

Eggs

$5.02 VUV 589

$2.18 ฿72.9

130.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 VUV 1,465

$16.65 ฿556

-24.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.59 VUV 1,008

$2.76 ฿92.2

211.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.90 VUV 1,748

$9.11 ฿304

63.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 VUV 508

$2.39 ฿80.0

81.17%

Banana (1kg)

$4.23 VUV 497

$1.03 ฿34.26

310.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 VUV 506

$1.63 ฿54.4

164.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 VUV 508

$1.50 ฿50.0

188.67%

Potato (1kg)

$4.12 VUV 483

$1.29 ฿43.13

219.38%

Onion (1kg)

$4.28 VUV 502

$1.11 ฿37.03

285.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.29 VUV 504

$0.72 ฿24.08

495.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 VUV 482

$0.53 ฿17.59

675.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.78 VUV 1,968

$4.31 ฿144

289.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.12 VUV 2,009

$17.95 ฿600

-4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 VUV 505

$1.58 ฿52.9

172.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 VUV 488

$2.84 ฿95.0

46.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

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

$12.11 ฿405

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

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

$793 ฿26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,970 VUV 348.3K

$298 ฿9,954

897.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$294 VUV 34.5K

$591 ฿19.7K

-50.21%

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: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Groceries & Markets

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Clothing & Footwear

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Eating Out

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Getting Around

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Norsup

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 102% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know

🇻🇺 Norsup

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

20:59 8:59 PM

16:59 4:59 PM

4 h behind Norsup

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,200

127,240

💱 Currency

Vanuatu Vatu VUV Vt

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD

1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to VUV – Vanuatu Vatu Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇻🇺 Vanuatu Vatu (Vt)

Vanuatu Vatu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 117 VUV (1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD). 1 EUR = 132 VUV (1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to VUV in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Norsup Chiang Mai 8,430 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Norsup
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

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

Norsup costs about 268% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,181 per month in Norsup and $1,408 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 $3,454 in Norsup and $938 in Chiang Mai. That's a gap of about 268%.

Groceries cost about 104% 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 $938, than in Norsup at $3,454. 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 $938 versus $3,454 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.