🙂A single person spends $417 per month in Soroti vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $679 per month in Soroti vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $941 per month in Soroti vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Soroti is about 51% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Soroti and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soroti69% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83UGX 10.5K
$1.96฿64.0
44.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.33UGX 97.6K
$18.81฿615
39.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47UGX 31.4K
$7.92฿259
6.94%
Cappuccino
$2.77UGX 10.3K
$1.91฿62.6
45.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47UGX 1,746
$0.84฿27.41
-44.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29UGX 1,068
$0.35฿11.51
-17.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38UGX 5,114
$2.21฿72.1
-37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83UGX 10.5K
$3.80฿124
-25.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71UGX 2,645
$1.64฿53.5
-56.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19UGX 4,428
$1.62฿53.1
-26.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10UGX 4,075
$1.18฿38.62
-6.78%
Eggs
$1.78UGX 6,609
$2.01฿65.8
-11.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.20UGX 15.6K
$15.89฿520
-73.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.03UGX 18.7K
$3.01฿98.5
67.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.40UGX 12.6K
$10.77฿352
-68.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82UGX 10.5K
$2.61฿85.5
8.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49UGX 5,519
$1.22฿39.88
22.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73UGX 6,430
$1.70฿55.7
1.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81UGX 2,991
$1.58฿51.5
-48.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58UGX 2,140
$1.32฿43.14
-56.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66UGX 6,152
$1.17฿38.23
41.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07UGX 3,969
$0.67฿21.98
59.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58UGX 2,136
$0.56฿18.32
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90UGX 10.7K
$4.53฿148
-35.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.24UGX 34.3K
$18.20฿595
-49.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20UGX 4,440
$1.83฿60.0
-34.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07UGX 7,662
$3.23฿106
-35.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿29.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿634
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58UGX 2,135
$1.35฿44.20
-57.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26UGX 956
$1.35฿44.05
-80.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.13UGX 15.3K
$8.25฿270
-49.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50UGX 5,571
$1.27฿41.64
18.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,937UGX 33.1M
$21.2K฿691.8K
-57.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,607UGX 31.9M
$22.5K฿735.3K
-61.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.37UGX 157.1K
$70.2฿2,294
-39.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.30UGX 53.0K
$13.77฿450
3.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.98UGX 163.1K
$17.60฿575
149.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,360
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.12UGX 22.7K
$5.78฿189
5.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160UGX 593.1K
$306฿10.0K
-47.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,287UGX 15.9M
$14.8K฿484.8K
-71.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.75UGX 62.1K
$54.4฿1,778
-69.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.10UGX 52.3K
$26.14฿855
-46.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.58UGX 143.0K
$84.5฿2,764
-54.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.64UGX 172.9K
$69.4฿2,270
-32.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,788
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿27.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroti
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.8K
-
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 Soroti: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Soroti versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in Soroti vs $243 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 104% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $625 per month in Soroti and $1,278 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Soroti and $19.00 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 Soroti or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $417 in Soroti and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Soroti or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soroti costs $417 versus $852 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 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.