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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $720 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,098 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,475 in Kampala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Kampala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kampala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kampala 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.63 UGX 10.2K

-20.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$26.64 UGX 102.9K

-25.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.64 UGX 29.5K

-24.21%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.61 UGX 10.1K

-29.89%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.42 UGX 1,638

85.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.28 UGX 1,072

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.35 UGX 5,217

73.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.82 UGX 7,042

103.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.78 UGX 3,023

160.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.00 UGX 3,864

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.34 UGX 5,181

5.97%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.51 UGX 5,848

44.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.69 UGX 18.1K

239.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.09 UGX 19.6K

-39.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$5.30 UGX 20.5K

86.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.16 UGX 8,341

21.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.17 UGX 4,507

-5.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.35 UGX 5,214

20.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.24 UGX 4,806

23.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.32 UGX 5,082

-6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.36 UGX 5,247

-16.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.78 UGX 3,014

-5.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.56 UGX 2,161

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.58 UGX 9,976

65.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$8.10 UGX 31.3K

121.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.08 UGX 4,172

57.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.98 UGX 7,652

46.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.82 UGX 3,165

14.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$46.24 UGX 178.6K

19.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.55 UGX 2,132

123.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.32 UGX 1,226

65.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$3.25 UGX 12.6K

-26.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.41 UGX 5,452

2.13%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$7,845 UGX 30.3M

170.16%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$7,825 UGX 30.2M

248.93%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$74.2 UGX 286.6K

-12.48%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$12.74 UGX 49.2K

4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$37.59 UGX 145.2K

-44.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$58.4 UGX 225.6K

-30.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.45 UGX 24.9K

-38.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.84 UGX 30.3K

-14.41%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$257 UGX 992.8K

206.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$8,416 UGX 32.5M

79.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$14.99 UGX 57.9K

275.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$13.77 UGX 53.2K

81.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$33.79 UGX 130.6K

174.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$46.41 UGX 179.3K

61.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$523 UGX 2.0M

-7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$181 UGX 697.8K

59.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,149 UGX 4.4M

-20.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$335 UGX 1.3M

58.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,250 UGX 4.8M

58.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$983 UGX 3.8M

47.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$190 UGX 735.2K

218.06%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Kampala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $523 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 218% 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 Kampala. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $156 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 32% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,080 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $257 in Kampala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 Kampala, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kampala 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. Kampala costs $720 versus $950 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.