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

🙂 Solo nomad: Mbarara is 27.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 38% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mbarara is 32.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 33% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 UGX 10.3K
$2.03 ฿64.8
37.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.35 UGX 97.0K
$18.59 ฿594
41.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 UGX 32.6K
$7.48 ฿239
18.45%
Cappuccino
$2.72 UGX 10.0K
$2.00 ฿63.8
36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 UGX 1,742
$0.85 ฿27.08
-44.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 UGX 1,152
$0.35 ฿11.24
-11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 UGX 5,260
$2.21 ฿70.7
-35.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 UGX 10.3K
$3.76 ฿120
-25.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.57 UGX 2,099
$1.72 ฿54.9
-66.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 UGX 4,633
$1.63 ฿52.2
-22.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 UGX 4,911
$1.16 ฿37.04
14.66%
Eggs
$1.84 UGX 6,786
$1.98 ฿63.3
-7.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.26 UGX 15.7K
$15.93 ฿509
-73.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 UGX 18.6K
$3.17 ฿101
59.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.84 UGX 14.1K
$10.90 ฿349
-64.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 UGX 10.1K
$2.65 ฿84.6
3.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 UGX 5,390
$1.22 ฿39.09
19.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UGX 6,352
$1.70 ฿54.3
1.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 UGX 5,846
$1.59 ฿50.8
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 UGX 6,086
$1.32 ฿42.33
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 UGX 6,846
$1.17 ฿37.36
58.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 UGX 3,878
$0.68 ฿21.67
54.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 UGX 2,108
$0.56 ฿17.81
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 UGX 10.7K
$4.51 ฿144
-35.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.73 UGX 35.8K
$19.07 ฿610
-48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 UGX 4,550
$1.77 ฿56.6
-29.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 UGX 7,599
$3.18 ฿102
-35.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 UGX 3,122
$0.96 ฿30.78
-11.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿604
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 UGX 1,962
$1.36 ฿43.41
-61.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 UGX 954
$1.35 ฿43.23
-80.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 UGX 15.1K
$8.03 ฿257
-48.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 UGX 5,543
$1.24 ฿39.74
21.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,164 UGX 33.7M
$21.2K ฿676.6K
-56.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,804 UGX 32.4M
$21.8K ฿695.5K
-59.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.68 UGX 157.1K
$71.2 ฿2,277
-40.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.15 UGX 52.1K
$14.09 ฿450
0.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.68 UGX 164.5K
$17.47 ฿559
155.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.81 UGX 76.6K
$42.07 ฿1,345
-50.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿220
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.10 UGX 22.4K
$5.94 ฿190
2.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 UGX 581.2K
$307 ฿9,827
-48.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,397 UGX 16.2M
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-70.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.19 UGX 63.3K
$55.7 ฿1,780
-69.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.30 UGX 52.7K
$26.79 ฿856
-46.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.92 UGX 143.3K
$83.2 ฿2,661
-53.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.31 UGX 170.5K
$70.1 ฿2,241
-33.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.4 UGX 358.7K
$427 ฿13.7K
-77.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.2 UGX 306.2K
$237 ฿7,580
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 UGX 955.2K
$802 ฿25.6K
-67.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 UGX 713.6K
$503 ฿16.1K
-61.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbarara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 ฿20.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.8
5
316.00%

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

Last update for Mbarara: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities