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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $439 in Iganga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $701 in Iganga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $962 in Iganga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Iganga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Iganga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Iganga 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

-31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$26.59 UGX 98.4K

-30.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$8.70 UGX 32.2K

-9.54%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

-31.82%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.47 UGX 1,729

80.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.31 UGX 1,162

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$1.41 UGX 5,219

51.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

28.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.76 UGX 2,815

118.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.20 UGX 4,432

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.39 UGX 5,160

-14.39%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.81 UGX 6,713

9.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$4.36 UGX 16.2K

272.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$5.05 UGX 18.7K

-37.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$4.35 UGX 16.1K

149.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-6.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.47 UGX 5,436

-17.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.67 UGX 6,176

-1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.60 UGX 5,929

-3.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.56 UGX 5,789

-14.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.92 UGX 7,101

-36.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.06 UGX 3,941

-35.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.54 UGX 2,012

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$2.91 UGX 10.8K

60.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$9.56 UGX 35.4K

77.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.24 UGX 4,603

46.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.05 UGX 7,606

55.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.54 UGX 1,989

161.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.28 UGX 1,039

378.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$4.28 UGX 15.8K

90.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.50 UGX 5,558

-14.67%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$9,052 UGX 33.5M

141.12%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$8,598 UGX 31.8M

160.53%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$42.37 UGX 156.8K

66.34%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$14.53 UGX 53.8K

-3.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$43.25 UGX 160.1K

-59.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$6.41 UGX 23.7K

-7.02%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$159 UGX 587.7K

90.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$4,340 UGX 16.1M

244.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$17.06 UGX 63.1K

220.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$14.31 UGX 53.0K

83.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$39.01 UGX 144.4K

119.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$46.22 UGX 171.1K

50.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

-75.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Iganga: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Iganga. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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 93% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 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 $18.00 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 42% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $439 in Iganga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iganga costs $439 versus $848 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.