😐A single person spends $2,204 per month in Stokke vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,331 per month in Stokke vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,458 per month in Stokke vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Stokke costs about 159% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Stokke sits 65% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.30NOK 273
$1.96฿63.6
1394.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 939
$18.81฿611
435.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.59NOK 127
$7.92฿258
71.59%
Cappuccino
$4.90NOK 45.62
$1.91฿62.2
156.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36NOK 22.04
$0.84฿27.25
180.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97NOK 18.39
$0.35฿11.44
462.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.47NOK 78.9
$2.21฿71.7
283.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88NOK 82.8
$3.80฿124
133.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97NOK 18.36
$1.64฿53.2
20.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99NOK 18.51
$1.62฿52.8
22.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57NOK 23.98
$1.18฿38.40
117.80%
Eggs
$3.36NOK 31.33
$2.01฿65.4
67.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.09NOK 94.0
$15.89฿517
-36.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.29NOK 124
$3.01฿98.0
341.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.56NOK 331
$10.77฿350
230.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76NOK 25.74
$2.61฿85.0
5.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08NOK 19.38
$1.22฿39.65
70.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.07
$1.70฿55.4
77.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59NOK 33.49
$1.58฿51.2
127.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25NOK 21.00
$1.32฿42.89
70.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78NOK 16.61
$1.17฿38.01
52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27NOK 21.20
$0.67฿21.85
238.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62NOK 15.11
$0.56฿18.21
189.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04NOK 131
$4.53฿147
209.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.33NOK 143
$18.20฿592
-15.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 31.05
$1.83฿59.6
81.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95NOK 36.85
$3.23฿105
22.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.00NOK 37.27
$0.89฿28.83
349.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.3NOK 609
$19.38฿630
237.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.30NOK 143
$1.35฿43.95
1033.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 12.95
$1.35฿43.79
2.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.7NOK 930
$8.25฿268
1108.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.08
$1.27฿41.40
69.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KNOK 333.0K
$21.2K฿687.8K
68.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2KNOK 355.9K
$22.5K฿731.0K
69.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214NOK 1,990
$70.2฿2,281
204.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.83NOK 287
$13.77฿448
123.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.11NOK 355
$17.60฿572
116.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9NOK 502
$41.57฿1,352
29.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.02NOK 336
$6.60฿215
445.76%
Cinema Ticket
$14.77NOK 138
$5.78฿188
155.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313NOK 2,918
$306฿9,953
2.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,937NOK 92.6K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-32.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2NOK 635
$54.4฿1,768
25.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.62NOK 211
$26.14฿850
-13.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2NOK 700
$84.5฿2,748
-11.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122NOK 1,134
$69.4฿2,257
75.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,223NOK 11.4K
$424฿13.8K
188.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$759NOK 7,072
$238฿7,743
218.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,850NOK 17.2K
$825฿26.8K
124.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207NOK 11.2K
$515฿16.7K
134.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,420NOK 59.8K
$2,049฿66.6K
213.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,935NOK 36.7K
$1,523฿49.5K
158.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,527NOK 32.9K
$635฿20.6K
455.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.96
5
-60.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stokke: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,223 in Stokke versus $424 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 455% higher in Stokke, 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 $101 in Stokke versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $243 – 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
Stokke vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stokke or Chiang Mai?
Stokke costs about 159% 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 Stokke vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,306 per month in Stokke and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stokke 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 Stokke and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $313 per month in Stokke and $306 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 Stokke or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 71% more in Stokke, 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 Stokke or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Stokke at $2,204. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stokke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stokke or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,204 in Stokke. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stokke 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 Stokke or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stokke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.