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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $132 per month in Gulu vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $193 per month in Gulu vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $255 per month in Gulu vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gulu is about 85% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gulu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gulu 90% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 UGX 5,019

$1.96 ฿65.9

-30.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.58 UGX 46.5K

$7.48 ฿252

68.18%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.5K

$2.02 ฿67.8

41.09%

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

$0.27 UGX 990

$0.85 ฿28.52

-68.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 UGX 472

$0.36 ฿11.97

-63.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 UGX 3,216

$2.14 ฿71.9

-59.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

$3.59 ฿121

-20.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 UGX 3,985

$0.88 ฿29.70

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.05 UGX 122.3K

$19.34 ฿651

70.89%

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)

$1.37 UGX 5,079

$1.22 ฿41.20

12.30%

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

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

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

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

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

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 Gulu: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 554% more than Gulu, 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 $198 per month in Gulu and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $132 in Gulu and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 71% less in Gulu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $132 in Gulu and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gulu costs $132 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 Gulu. 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.