😐A single person spends $2,181 per month in Stokke vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,320 per month in Stokke vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,458 per month in Stokke vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Stokke costs about 151% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Stokke sits 62% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.12NOK 276
$1.98฿64.3
1370.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.4NOK 943
$18.80฿612
428.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.44NOK 128
$7.75฿252
73.42%
Cappuccino
$4.83NOK 45.84
$1.92฿62.5
151.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41NOK 22.87
$0.79฿25.79
205.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07NOK 19.69
$0.36฿11.62
475.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.41NOK 79.9
$2.21฿72.1
280.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.26NOK 87.9
$3.66฿119
153.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92NOK 18.21
$1.65฿53.8
16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04NOK 19.39
$1.63฿53.2
25.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56NOK 24.26
$1.19฿38.86
115.13%
Eggs
$3.51NOK 33.35
$2.00฿65.1
75.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07NOK 95.6
$15.98฿520
-36.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.52NOK 128
$3.03฿98.5
346.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$36.04NOK 342
$10.86฿354
231.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84NOK 26.95
$2.76฿90.0
2.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.87
$1.18฿38.42
77.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03NOK 28.72
$1.64฿53.5
84.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45NOK 32.76
$1.52฿49.51
126.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17NOK 20.63
$1.38฿45.10
57.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86NOK 17.68
$1.19฿38.84
56.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35NOK 22.29
$0.70฿22.86
235.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71NOK 16.21
$0.56฿18.13
205.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12NOK 134
$4.58฿149
208.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.94NOK 142
$16.56฿539
-9.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26NOK 30.92
$1.83฿59.5
78.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 38.28
$3.20฿104
25.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.97NOK 37.68
$0.88฿28.56
351.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6NOK 632
$18.72฿610
255.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.91NOK 142
$1.36฿44.16
996.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 13.81
$1.34฿43.65
8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 965
$7.84฿256
1196.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.83
$1.23฿39.92
69.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KNOK 331.9K
$21.6K฿704.3K
61.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KNOK 364.2K
$22.5K฿734.3K
70.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212NOK 2,016
$70.5฿2,298
201.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.83NOK 283
$13.68฿445
118.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.47NOK 356
$17.45฿568
114.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0NOK 512
$41.33฿1,346
30.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.35NOK 336
$6.96฿227
407.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.00NOK 142
$5.77฿188
159.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,863
$307฿10.0K
-1.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 95.0K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-31.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7NOK 642
$55.8฿1,817
21.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.53NOK 214
$26.21฿854
-14.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1NOK 731
$85.8฿2,793
-10.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123NOK 1,168
$72.2฿2,353
70.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,219NOK 11.6K
$430฿14.0K
183.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$745NOK 7,068
$239฿7,774
211.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,797NOK 17.1K
$817฿26.6K
119.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,196NOK 11.4K
$511฿16.6K
134.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,944NOK 65.9K
$1,983฿64.6K
250.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,795NOK 45.5K
$1,484฿48.3K
223.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokke
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,550NOK 33.7K
$619฿20.2K
473.67%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,219 in Stokke versus $430 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 474% 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 $99.0 in Stokke versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $241 – 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 151% 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 $3,272 per month in Stokke and $1,303 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 $302 per month in Stokke and $307 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 74% 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 $869, than in Stokke at $2,181. 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 $869 versus $2,181 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.