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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $132 in Gulu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $193 in Gulu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $255 in Gulu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 554% more than Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gulu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gulu 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.36 UGX 5,019

44.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$12.58 UGX 46.5K

-40.54%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.85 UGX 10.5K

-29.12%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.27 UGX 990

214.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.13 UGX 472

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$0.87 UGX 3,216

145.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

25.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.08 UGX 3,985

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$33.05 UGX 122.3K

-41.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.37 UGX 5,079

-10.95%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Gulu: July 11, 2026

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 Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 554% more than Gulu, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $198 in Gulu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $132 in Gulu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 71% less in Gulu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $132 in Gulu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gulu costs $132 versus $861 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 Gulu. 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.