Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Portal

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort Portal: $388 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $27,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Fort Portal
🇺🇬 Uganda
$388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Fort Portal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Fort Portal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $388 in Fort Portal.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Fort Portal $388

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $611 in Fort Portal.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Fort Portal $611

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $835 in Fort Portal.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Fort Portal $835

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 586% more expensive than in Fort Portal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Fort Portal is 71% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$2.53 UGX 10.4K
720.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$24.99 UGX 102.8K
238.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$7.56 UGX 31.1K
62.96%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.49 UGX 10.3K
126.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.36 UGX 1,475
933.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.26 UGX 1,066
861.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.26 UGX 5,169
538.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.83 UGX 7,530
392.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.29 UGX 1,184
286.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.78 UGX 3,207
380.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.02 UGX 4,202
219.61%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.27 UGX 5,231
228.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$4.39 UGX 18.0K
193.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$4.67 UGX 19.2K
203.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$3.30 UGX 13.6K
391.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.07 UGX 8,509
109.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.72 UGX 2,954
102.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.28 UGX 5,270
252.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.19 UGX 4,880
264.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.21 UGX 4,970
113.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.60 UGX 2,472
291.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.74 UGX 3,041
140.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.51 UGX 2,107
335.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$2.50 UGX 10.3K
295.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$4.84 UGX 19.9K
211.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.71 UGX 2,939
311.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.01 UGX 4,173
242.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.52 UGX 2,158
425.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.30 UGX 1,227
453.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$3.06 UGX 12.6K
1053.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.24 UGX 5,103
-23.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$7,493 UGX 30.8M
381.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$7,377 UGX 30.3M
267.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$71.3 UGX 293.1K
221.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$11.70 UGX 48.1K
407.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$34.97 UGX 143.8K
99.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$7.44 UGX 30.6K
91.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$254 UGX 1.0M
493.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$8,385 UGX 34.5M
155.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$14.26 UGX 58.7K
270.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$12.82 UGX 52.8K
241.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$32.90 UGX 135.3K
157.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$44.59 UGX 183.4K
131.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Fort Portal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
20.75
-67.28%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Fort Portal: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Fort Portal
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Fort Portal
$121 70% $283
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Fort Portal
$118 67.1% $240
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Fort Portal
$85 75.9% $269
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Fort Portal
$47 63.2% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Fort Portal
$15 * 82.7% $71
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Fort Portal
$2 * 96.6% $57

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $25.00 in Fort Portal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $121 per month, with Fort Portal cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇬 Fort Portal
🕒 Local time
22:00 10:00 PM
06:00 6:00 AM
8 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
54,275
Exchange rates and currency converter

UGX, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Ugandan Shilling exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4,113 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD). 1 EUR = 4,624 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Fort Portal 13,540 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Fort Portal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Fort Portal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Fort Portal?
Fort Portal wins on cost – living expenses run 586% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fort Portal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Fort Portal?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $583 in Fort Portal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and in Fort Portal?
Childcare runs $1,506 in Austin, TX versus $254 in Fort Portal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Fort Portal?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Portal – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Fort Portal?
At $388 in Fort Portal versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fort Portal but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Portal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Fort Portal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fort Portal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 586% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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