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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $449 in Iganga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $698 in Iganga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $946 in Iganga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Iganga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Iganga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Iganga 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.75 UGX 10.2K

-23.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$27.17 UGX 101.0K

-27.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.58 UGX 28.2K

-22.82%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.58 UGX 9,585

-31.78%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.41 UGX 1,511

80.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.30 UGX 1,115

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.37 UGX 5,107

80.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.95 UGX 7,264

98.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.85 UGX 3,171

123.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.98 UGX 3,642

70.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.34 UGX 4,976

0.75%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.50 UGX 5,593

42.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$4.88 UGX 18.1K

225.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.02 UGX 18.7K

-43.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$5.15 UGX 19.1K

104.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.38 UGX 8,830

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.27 UGX 4,733

-15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.45 UGX 5,374

4.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.33 UGX 4,952

12.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.34 UGX 4,990

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.47 UGX 5,450

-25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.86 UGX 3,214

-19.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.54 UGX 1,994

-9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.69 UGX 10.0K

58.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$8.26 UGX 30.7K

103.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.08 UGX 4,011

53.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.09 UGX 7,778

34.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.52 UGX 1,930

130.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.33 UGX 1,222

63.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$3.43 UGX 12.8K

-30.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.50 UGX 5,573

-4.67%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$7,977 UGX 29.6M

164.22%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$8,166 UGX 30.3M

232.26%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$74.5 UGX 277.0K

-13.12%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$15.30 UGX 56.9K

-13.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$39.50 UGX 146.8K

-50.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$7.36 UGX 27.4K

-10.05%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$252 UGX 934.8K

220.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$8,483 UGX 31.5M

78.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$15.25 UGX 56.7K

259.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$13.90 UGX 51.7K

82.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$35.13 UGX 130.6K

161.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$47.44 UGX 176.3K

57.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Iganga: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Iganga. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $160 in Iganga – so Iganga 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 Iganga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Iganga, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $674 in Iganga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iganga, where all-in costs run around $449, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Iganga 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. Iganga costs $449 versus $920 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 Iganga. 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.