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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $422 in Soroti, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $684 in Soroti, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Soroti, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Soroti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Soroti are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Soroti 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

-25.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$26.01 UGX 97.4K

-28.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.78 UGX 32.9K

-10.48%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.84 UGX 10.6K

-28.52%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.47 UGX 1,749

70.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.29 UGX 1,084

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.42 UGX 5,334

50.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

29.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.74 UGX 2,787

133.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.25 UGX 4,689

25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.08 UGX 4,035

11.11%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.81 UGX 6,795

8.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$4.31 UGX 16.1K

276.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.93 UGX 18.4K

-37.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.30 UGX 12.3K

227.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.68 UGX 10.0K

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.54 UGX 5,758

-24.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.75 UGX 6,540

-2.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.84 UGX 3,156

89.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.54 UGX 2,025

157.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.63 UGX 6,085

-28.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.03 UGX 3,854

-35.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.58 UGX 2,157

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.85 UGX 10.7K

63.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$8.21 UGX 30.8K

116.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.18 UGX 4,420

51.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.14 UGX 8,029

56.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.58 UGX 2,190

143.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.28 UGX 1,061

378.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.22 UGX 15.8K

92.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.51 UGX 5,659

-18.54%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$8,937 UGX 33.5M

139.85%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$8,780 UGX 32.9M

148.57%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$42.88 UGX 160.5K

66.35%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$14.48 UGX 54.2K

-3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$43.48 UGX 162.8K

-58.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.29 UGX 23.6K

-9.06%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$158 UGX 592.7K

94.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$4,257 UGX 15.9M

244.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$16.73 UGX 62.6K

233.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$14.38 UGX 53.8K

81.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$38.49 UGX 144.1K

120.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$46.84 UGX 175.4K

51.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Soroti: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Soroti. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $155 in Soroti – so Soroti 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 Soroti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Soroti, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $634 in Soroti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Soroti. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $422 in Soroti, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soroti costs $422 versus $852 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 Soroti. 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.