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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $753 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,118 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Kampala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Kampala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kampala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kampala 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

-28.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$26.91 UGX 99.5K

-31.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.77 UGX 32.4K

-14.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

-26.28%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.47 UGX 1,742

80.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.31 UGX 1,153

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.36 UGX 5,041

57.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

27.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.71 UGX 2,617

132.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.25 UGX 4,629

25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.34 UGX 4,944

-11.19%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.76 UGX 6,501

10.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.34 UGX 16.0K

273.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.87 UGX 18.0K

-38.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.23 UGX 15.6K

158.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.73 UGX 10.1K

-0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.51 UGX 5,598

-22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.66 UGX 6,126

1.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.58 UGX 5,827

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.64 UGX 6,073

-15.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.94 UGX 7,194

-38.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.07 UGX 3,955

-37.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.53 UGX 1,973

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.95 UGX 10.9K

57.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.62 UGX 31.9K

104.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.18 UGX 4,351

57.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.11 UGX 7,816

56.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.79 UGX 2,937

11.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$41.36 UGX 153.0K

-53.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.55 UGX 2,029

147.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.28 UGX 1,037

378.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.24 UGX 15.7K

93.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.43 UGX 5,285

-14.69%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$8,909 UGX 33.0M

139.69%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$8,617 UGX 31.9M

161.45%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$42.44 UGX 157.0K

66.52%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$14.53 UGX 53.7K

-3.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$43.09 UGX 159.4K

-59.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$48.76 UGX 180.4K

-13.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$7.42 UGX 27.5K

-7.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.15 UGX 22.8K

-3.74%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$164 UGX 605.5K

88.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$4,247 UGX 15.7M

250.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$17.31 UGX 64.0K

222.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$14.47 UGX 53.5K

80.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$38.03 UGX 140.7K

118.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$46.10 UGX 170.5K

52.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$402 UGX 1.5M

7.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$225 UGX 831.5K

6.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$987 UGX 3.6M

-16.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$337 UGX 1.2M

52.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,253 UGX 4.6M

52.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,001 UGX 3.7M

46.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$192 UGX 710.4K

201.65%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kampala: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $402 in Kampala. 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 202% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Kampala. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $166 in Kampala – so Kampala 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 Kampala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Kampala, 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 $1,130 in Kampala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $164 in Kampala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $753 in Kampala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kampala costs $753 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 Kampala. 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.