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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $346 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $476 in Kasese, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 297% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kasese 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.99 UGX 7,361

-1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

-25.74%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.40 UGX 1,482

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.29 UGX 1,086

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$0.81 UGX 2,987

164.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.10 UGX 4,052

42.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.00 UGX 3,712

19.00%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.96 UGX 11.0K

-34.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.41 UGX 20.0K

-44.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.29 UGX 15.9K

155.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

-1.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.58 UGX 2,148

175.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.55 UGX 2,028

150.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.57 UGX 2,110

110.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.53 UGX 1,969

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$4.05 UGX 15.0K

335.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.78 UGX 51.0K

1.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$27.79 UGX 102.8K

51.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$14.11 UGX 52.2K

295.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$19.61 UGX 72.5K

259.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$400 UGX 1.5M

378.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kasese: July 11, 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

Chiang Mai vs Kasese: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 297% more than Kasese, 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 $326 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $217 in Kasese. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 142% 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 $217 in Kasese, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kasese costs $217 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 Kasese. 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.