🙂A single person spends $430 per month in Soroti vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $667 per month in Soroti vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $904 per month in Soroti vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Soroti is about 54% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Soroti and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soroti69% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68UGX 10.5K
$2.08฿69.3
28.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.93UGX 106.1K
$19.61฿653
37.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.59UGX 29.9K
$5.67฿189
33.86%
Cappuccino
$2.64UGX 10.4K
$1.81฿60.1
45.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39UGX 1,551
$0.77฿25.58
-49.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30UGX 1,196
$0.35฿11.49
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35UGX 5,335
$2.21฿73.7
-38.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88UGX 7,402
$3.79฿126
-50.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79UGX 3,096
$2.05฿68.2
-61.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96UGX 3,765
$1.51฿50.4
-36.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05UGX 4,119
$1.40฿46.57
-25.00%
Eggs
$1.51UGX 5,945
$2.26฿75.2
-33.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.64UGX 18.3K
$16.19฿539
-71.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.89UGX 19.2K
$2.90฿96.4
68.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.09UGX 12.2K
$9.42฿314
-67.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09UGX 8,241
$2.68฿89.2
-22.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21UGX 4,747
$1.09฿36.28
11.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34UGX 5,274
$1.62฿53.8
-17.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78UGX 3,053
$1.46฿48.61
-46.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52UGX 2,039
$1.28฿42.54
-59.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40UGX 5,519
$1.06฿35.21
32.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79UGX 3,123
$0.72฿23.88
9.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56UGX 2,196
$0.53฿17.51
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68UGX 10.6K
$4.23฿141
-36.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85UGX 30.9K
$18.29฿609
-57.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04UGX 4,106
$1.63฿54.3
-36.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06UGX 8,126
$2.90฿96.6
-28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.24
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51UGX 2,010
$1.17฿39.04
-56.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32UGX 1,241
$0.58฿19.25
-44.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.29UGX 13.0K
$2.39฿79.4
37.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46UGX 5,757
$1.45฿48.28
0.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,889UGX 31.1M
$21.0K฿699.5K
-62.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,996UGX 31.5M
$26.4K฿879.7K
-69.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.9UGX 295.0K
$63.7฿2,119
17.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.35UGX 48.7K
$12.89฿429
-4.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.08UGX 146.0K
$20.52฿683
80.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,299
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.76UGX 30.6K
$6.58฿219
17.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$261UGX 1.0M
$784฿26.1K
-66.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,470UGX 33.4M
$14.7K฿488.4K
-42.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.61UGX 57.5K
$55.1฿1,835
-73.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.65UGX 53.8K
$24.74฿824
-44.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.92UGX 137.5K
$94.1฿3,133
-62.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.10UGX 185.5K
$74.0฿2,462
-36.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,594
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.75
5.57
272.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soroti: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Soroti versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $141 in Soroti vs $241 in Chiang Mai – 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
Soroti vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Soroti or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 117% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Soroti and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $645 per month in Soroti and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Soroti and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Soroti and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Soroti or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 70% 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 $1,500/month in Soroti or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Soroti, where all-in costs run around $430, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Soroti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Soroti or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soroti costs $430 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Soroti 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 Soroti or to Chiang Mai?
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.