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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 37.3% more expensive than Mbarara without rent, and 61.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 30.3% more expensive than Mbarara without rent, and 52.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.75 UGX 9,846
-26.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$26.46 UGX 94.8K
-29.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.65 UGX 31K
-11.33%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.73 UGX 9,770
-27.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.51 UGX 1,833
60.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.29 UGX 1,032
13.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.35 UGX 4,846
57.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.81 UGX 10.1K
32.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.55 UGX 1,955
198.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.22 UGX 4,364
28.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.38 UGX 4,960
-13.77%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.85 UGX 6,645
7.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$4.35 UGX 15.6K
267.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.12 UGX 18.4K
-39.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$3.97 UGX 14.2K
181.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.67 UGX 9,572
3.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.48 UGX 5,298
-17.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.68 UGX 6,011
1.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.54 UGX 5,517
0.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.62 UGX 5,814
-17.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.85 UGX 6,631
-34.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.03 UGX 3,684
-30.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.55 UGX 1,958
-3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.96 UGX 10.6K
59.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$11.63 UGX 41.7K
58.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.19 UGX 4,262
50.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.14 UGX 7,670
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.86 UGX 3,083
9.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.59 UGX 2,103
140.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.26 UGX 931
419.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$4.28 UGX 15.3K
83.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.49 UGX 5,338
-16.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$8,977 UGX 32.2M
135.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$8,705 UGX 31.2M
150.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$42.27 UGX 151.5K
67.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$14.21 UGX 50.9K
-3.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$43.42 UGX 155.6K
-59.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$20.85 UGX 74.7K
99.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$6.38 UGX 22.9K
-9.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$160 UGX 573.3K
92.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$4,267 UGX 15.3M
244.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$16.86 UGX 60.4K
228.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$14.02 UGX 50.3K
88.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$38.74 UGX 138.9K
119.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$46.72 UGX 167.5K
53.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$98.7 UGX 353.6K
340.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$82.7 UGX 296.4K
184.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$260 UGX 932.3K
215.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$197 UGX 705.8K
153.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mbarara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mbarara: October 26, 2025

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