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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $747 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,128 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,508 in Kampala, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Kampala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kampala are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kampala 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

-31.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$26.26 UGX 98.7K

-29.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.39 UGX 31.5K

-6.79%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.87 UGX 10.8K

-32.06%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.51 UGX 1,914

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.31 UGX 1,178

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.37 UGX 5,142

55.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

37.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.74 UGX 2,797

131.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.25 UGX 4,690

30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.34 UGX 5,045

-14.93%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.82 UGX 6,849

6.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

277.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.92 UGX 18.5K

-36.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.15 UGX 15.6K

162.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.46 UGX 5,496

-17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.65 UGX 6,219

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.53 UGX 5,746

3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.63 UGX 6,121

-14.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.91 UGX 7,172

-38.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.02 UGX 3,841

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.54 UGX 2,013

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.89 UGX 10.9K

62.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$8.75 UGX 32.9K

113.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.24 UGX 4,665

45.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.14 UGX 8,053

50.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.86 UGX 3,248

4.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$41.33 UGX 155.4K

-53.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.58 UGX 2,162

143.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.26 UGX 972

396.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

89.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.46 UGX 5,478

-13.01%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$8,985 UGX 33.8M

136.81%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$8,649 UGX 32.5M

156.81%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$41.73 UGX 156.9K

65.52%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$14.10 UGX 53.0K

-0.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$43.81 UGX 164.8K

-58.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$48.49 UGX 182.4K

-15.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.56 UGX 28.4K

-7.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.25 UGX 23.5K

-5.28%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$161 UGX 603.6K

86.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$4,373 UGX 16.4M

241.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$17.20 UGX 64.7K

218.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$14.21 UGX 53.4K

88.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$39.06 UGX 146.9K

117.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$47.64 UGX 179.1K

48.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$395 UGX 1.5M

8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$219 UGX 822.4K

8.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$982 UGX 3.7M

-18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$347 UGX 1.3M

48.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,231 UGX 4.6M

60.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$980 UGX 3.7M

50.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$191 UGX 717.4K

223.65%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kampala: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $395 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 224% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Kampala. Groceries tell a different story – $246 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 16% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,121 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Kampala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $747 in Kampala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kampala costs $747 versus $866 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.