🙂A single person spends $217 per month in Kasese vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $345 per month in Kasese vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $474 per month in Kasese vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kasese is about 75% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kasese and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kasese84% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97UGX 7,400
$1.94฿63.5
1.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.64฿609
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.82฿255
-
Cappuccino
$2.81UGX 10.6K
$1.95฿63.8
44.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41UGX 1,529
$0.85฿27.77
-51.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27UGX 1,012
$0.35฿11.58
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.80UGX 2,990
$2.13฿69.6
-62.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.71฿56.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.14UGX 4,291
$1.63฿53.2
-30.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98UGX 3,703
$1.14฿37.15
-14.04%
Eggs
$2.99UGX 11.2K
$1.93฿63.1
54.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.21฿530
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44UGX 20.5K
$3.12฿102
74.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.24UGX 16.0K
$10.90฿356
-61.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83UGX 10.6K
$2.75฿90.0
2.91%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.21฿39.52
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿53.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58UGX 2,182
$1.59฿51.8
-63.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54UGX 2,019
$1.40฿45.70
-61.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55UGX 2,052
$1.17฿38.17
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.66฿21.60
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54UGX 2,029
$0.53฿17.22
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.69฿153
-
Wine(Bottle)
$4.08UGX 15.3K
$18.66฿609
-78.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿58.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41฿45.91
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.27฿41.58
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.3K฿694.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.2K฿725.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$69.1฿2,256
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.95UGX 52.5K
$14.08฿460
-0.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.00฿588
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.04UGX 105.4K
$41.06฿1,341
-31.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.92฿193
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$299฿9,766
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿488.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.73UGX 51.6K
$54.7฿1,787
-74.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.77฿874
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.0฿2,776
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.65UGX 73.9K
$70.6฿2,306
-72.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$405UGX 1.5M
$1,975฿64.5K
-79.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kasese
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kasese: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 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
Kasese vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kasese or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 300% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kasese vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $325 per month in Kasese and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Kasese compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $217 in Kasese and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Kasese or Chiang Mai?
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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kasese or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $217 in Kasese and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kasese or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kasese costs $217 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kasese compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Kasese or Chiang Mai?
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.