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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $555 in Entebbe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $874 in Entebbe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,193 in Entebbe, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Entebbe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Entebbe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Entebbe 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$2.68 UGX 10.5K

-22.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$26.71 UGX 105.2K

-26.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.75 UGX 30.5K

-26.84%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.10 UGX 8,280

-13.81%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.25 UGX 981

208.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.27 UGX 1,074

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.89 UGX 3,495

148.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.31 UGX 5,148

189.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.79 UGX 3,095

159.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.96 UGX 3,767

57.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.39 UGX 5,475

0.72%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.53 UGX 6,010

47.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$4.75 UGX 18.7K

240.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.84 UGX 19.1K

-40.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$5.10 UGX 20.1K

84.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.09 UGX 8,248

28.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.22 UGX 4,796

-10.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.33 UGX 5,241

21.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.24 UGX 4,865

17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.26 UGX 4,949

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.36 UGX 5,345

-22.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.81 UGX 3,172

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.56 UGX 2,225

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.62 UGX 10.3K

61.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$8.02 UGX 31.6K

128.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.04 UGX 4,079

56.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.06 UGX 8,125

40.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.52 UGX 2,031

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.55 UGX 2,154

112.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.34 UGX 1,351

70.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$3.33 UGX 13.1K

-28.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.29 UGX 5,072

12.40%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$7,786 UGX 30.7M

169.85%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$8,061 UGX 31.7M

227.82%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$74.3 UGX 292.5K

-14.30%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$12.51 UGX 49.3K

3.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$38.11 UGX 150.1K

-46.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.80 UGX 30.7K

-15.64%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$260 UGX 1.0M

202.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,458 UGX 33.3M

73.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$14.73 UGX 58.0K

274.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$13.68 UGX 53.9K

80.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$34.75 UGX 136.9K

170.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$46.81 UGX 184.4K

58.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$236 UGX 927.8K

108.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$134 UGX 529.1K

114.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$397 UGX 1.6M

124.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$266 UGX 1.0M

95.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$133 UGX 525.6K

350.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

20.75

-73.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Entebbe: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $236 in Entebbe. 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 351% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Entebbe. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Entebbe – so Entebbe wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Entebbe, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $833 in Entebbe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Entebbe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $27.00 in Entebbe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Entebbe, where all-in costs run around $555, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Entebbe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Entebbe costs $555 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Entebbe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.