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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 14.2% more expensive than Kampala without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 15.9% more expensive than Kampala without rent, and 19.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$2.71 UGX 9,992
-25.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$26.23 UGX 96.8K
-30.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿245
$8.44 UGX 31.1K
-9.36%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.4
$2.75 UGX 10.1K
-30.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.91
$0.47 UGX 1,737
78.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.31 UGX 1,160
16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.36 UGX 5,004
61.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$2.83 UGX 10.4K
33.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.75 UGX 2,783
118.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.24 UGX 4,586
30.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.89
$1.40 UGX 5,164
-17.86%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.75 UGX 6,449
10.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$4.20 UGX 15.5K
279.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$5.04 UGX 18.6K
-38.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$4.35 UGX 16.1K
154.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.6
$2.82 UGX 10.4K
-3.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.70
$1.51 UGX 5,587
-21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.66 UGX 6,121
3.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.54 UGX 5,671
4.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.54
$1.60 UGX 5,895
-13.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.72
$1.86 UGX 6,867
-38.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.77
$1.01 UGX 3,734
-29.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.55 UGX 2,022
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$3.00 UGX 11.1K
52.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿604
$9.48 UGX 35.0K
99.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.24 UGX 4,593
46.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$2.12 UGX 7,840
51.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.17
$0.86 UGX 3,188
2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$41.90 UGX 154.6K
-54.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.18
$0.55 UGX 2,026
156.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.60
$0.28 UGX 1,036
364.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$4.06 UGX 15.0K
101.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.19
$1.44 UGX 5,322
-14.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.2K
$9,024 UGX 33.3M
134.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.5K
$8,734 UGX 32.2M
155.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$41.91 UGX 154.7K
66.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$14.15 UGX 52.2K
-0.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$44.72 UGX 165.0K
-60.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$47.83 UGX 176.5K
-13.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$7.16 UGX 26.4K
-6.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$6.16 UGX 22.7K
-6.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,569
$161 UGX 593.3K
86.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿480.0K
$4,342 UGX 16.0M
245.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$17.06 UGX 63.0K
221.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿843
$14.46 UGX 53.3K
82.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,707
$38.91 UGX 143.6K
117.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,230
$47.33 UGX 174.7K
47.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$393 UGX 1.5M
8.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,699
$218 UGX 804.5K
10.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$1,012 UGX 3.7M
-19.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$348 UGX 1.3M
43.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$1,213 UGX 4.5M
66.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$990 UGX 3.7M
53.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kampala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$199 UGX 733.0K
221.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
20.8
-75.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kampala: April 13, 2026

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

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