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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,478 per month in Tonsberg vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Tonsberg vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,885 per month in Tonsberg vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tonsberg costs about 192% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Tonsberg sits 85% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36 NOK 243
$2.03 ฿68.5
1149.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 NOK 980
$18.71 ฿631
445.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.89 NOK 133
$7.84 ฿265
77.17%
Cappuccino
$4.79 NOK 45.97
$1.93 ฿65.0
148.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 NOK 49.42
$0.83 ฿28.05
520.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 NOK 47.35
$0.35 ฿11.82
1311.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.96 NOK 95.5
$2.22 ฿74.9
348.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.66 NOK 92.6
$3.79 ฿128
154.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 NOK 21.15
$1.65 ฿55.5
33.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 NOK 32.51
$1.55 ฿52.4
118.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 NOK 30.70
$1.18 ฿39.86
171.19%
Eggs
$4.33 NOK 41.49
$2.01 ฿68.0
115.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.95 NOK 115
$16.16 ฿545
-26.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.90 NOK 143
$3.03 ฿102
391.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.98 NOK 268
$10.84 ฿366
158.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 NOK 33.80
$2.68 ฿90.4
31.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 NOK 23.09
$1.22 ฿41.21
97.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 NOK 31.20
$1.63 ฿54.9
99.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 NOK 42.26
$1.53 ฿51.6
188.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 NOK 23.46
$1.34 ฿45.18
82.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 NOK 23.66
$1.21 ฿40.93
104.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 NOK 26.24
$0.70 ฿23.67
291.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 NOK 18.33
$0.53 ฿17.73
260.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95 NOK 143
$4.69 ฿158
218.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.33 NOK 185
$17.71 ฿598
9.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41 NOK 32.66
$1.85 ฿62.3
84.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 NOK 39.62
$3.21 ฿108
28.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.18 NOK 40.06
$0.89 ฿30.07
369.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.3 NOK 694
$18.76 ฿633
285.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.16 NOK 97.5
$1.41 ฿47.48
620.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 NOK 13.42
$1.29 ฿43.59
8.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.45 NOK 455
$7.79 ฿263
509.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 NOK 20.14
$1.29 ฿43.67
62.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K NOK 334.2K
$21.8K ฿734.7K
60.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K NOK 371.6K
$21.7K ฿732.1K
78.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$237 NOK 2,272
$70.0 ฿2,362
238.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87 NOK 363
$14.19 ฿479
166.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 NOK 521
$17.42 ฿588
211.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.98 NOK 479
$41.64 ฿1,405
20.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.76 NOK 343
$6.89 ฿233
419.01%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26 NOK 156
$5.78 ฿195
181.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 NOK 2,734
$300 ฿10.1K
-4.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K NOK 96.1K
$14.5K ฿490.1K
-30.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 NOK 921
$55.4 ฿1,869
73.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9 NOK 498
$26.31 ฿888
97.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 NOK 1,052
$84.8 ฿2,863
29.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 NOK 1,462
$70.5 ฿2,379
116.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 NOK 11.8K
$425 ฿14.4K
188.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$935 NOK 8,966
$235 ฿7,933
297.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 NOK 13.8K
$802 ฿27.1K
79.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 NOK 11.5K
$516 ฿17.4K
133.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,119 NOK 49.1K
$1,926 ฿65.0K
165.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,108 NOK 39.4K
$1,451 ฿49.0K
183.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,407 NOK 42.3K
$586 ฿19.8K
651.60%
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 Tonsberg: July 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,226 in Tonsberg versus $425 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 652% higher in Tonsberg, 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 $102 in Tonsberg versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $242 – 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
Tonsberg vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tonsberg or Chiang Mai?
Tonsberg costs about 192% 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 Tonsberg and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,717 per month in Tonsberg and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Tonsberg and $300 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 Tonsberg or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 89% more in Tonsberg, 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 Tonsberg or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Tonsberg at $2,478. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tonsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tonsberg or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $2,478 in Tonsberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tonsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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