Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Portal and Kampala Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Portal and Kampala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $406 per month in Fort Portal vs $760 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $651 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,131 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $896 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,503 in Kampala, rent included.

Fort Portal is about 47% cheaper than Kampala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fort Portal and Kampala are more affordable than the global median – Fort Portal 70% lower, Kampala 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 UGX 10.3K

$2.71 UGX 10.0K

2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.21 UGX 96.9K

$25.90 UGX 95.8K

1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 UGX 32.4K

$8.44 UGX 31.2K

3.67%

Cappuccino

$2.87 UGX 10.6K

$2.85 UGX 10.5K

0.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 UGX 1,774

$0.50 UGX 1,849

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,157

$0.29 UGX 1,056

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 UGX 5,093

$1.35 UGX 5,006

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 UGX 10.5K

$2.75 UGX 10.2K

3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.32 UGX 1,171

$0.75 UGX 2,782

-57.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 UGX 2,946

$1.26 UGX 4,675

-36.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 UGX 4,015

$1.34 UGX 4,962

-18.66%

Eggs

$1.37 UGX 5,051

$1.85 UGX 6,824

-25.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.20 UGX 15.5K

$4.19 UGX 15.5K

0.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 UGX 18.4K

$5.05 UGX 18.7K

-1.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 UGX 13.3K

$4.18 UGX 15.4K

-13.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

$2.81 UGX 10.4K

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 UGX 3,126

$1.47 UGX 5,424

-42.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 UGX 6,158

$1.66 UGX 6,153

0.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,024

$1.53 UGX 5,659

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 UGX 5,787

$1.65 UGX 6,091

-4.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 UGX 2,505

$1.92 UGX 7,109

-64.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,904

$1.06 UGX 3,935

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,142

$0.53 UGX 1,971

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 UGX 10.9K

$2.88 UGX 10.6K

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.50 UGX 20.3K

$9.52 UGX 35.2K

-42.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 UGX 3,195

$1.19 UGX 4,411

-27.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 UGX 4,209

$2.08 UGX 7,675

-45.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 UGX 3,018

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.93 UGX 151.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 UGX 2,018

$0.54 UGX 1,981

1.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 957

$0.28 UGX 1,042

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 UGX 15.0K

$4.18 UGX 15.5K

-2.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 UGX 5,163

$1.49 UGX 5,516

-6.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$9,042 UGX 33.4M

$8,992 UGX 33.3M

0.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$8,608 UGX 31.8M

$8,867 UGX 32.8M

-2.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$42.64 UGX 157.7K

$42.71 UGX 157.9K

-0.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.49 UGX 53.6K

$14.33 UGX 53.0K

1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.07 UGX 159.3K

$44.31 UGX 163.9K

-2.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.66 UGX 179.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 UGX 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 UGX 23.3K

$6.13 UGX 22.7K

2.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$163 UGX 603.1K

$163 UGX 604.5K

-0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,253 UGX 15.7M

0.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.83 UGX 62.2K

$17.04 UGX 63.0K

-1.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.30 UGX 52.9K

$14.52 UGX 53.7K

-1.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.84 UGX 139.9K

$38.71 UGX 143.1K

-2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.76 UGX 176.6K

$47.00 UGX 173.8K

1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 UGX 817.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 UGX 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,241 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 UGX 735.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

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

Last update for Fort Portal: April 26, 2026

Last update for Kampala: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Fort Portal versus $26.00 in Kampala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $169 – making Fort Portal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fort Portal vs Kampala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kampala costs about 87% more than Fort Portal, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $609 per month in Fort Portal and $1,140 in Kampala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Fort Portal and $26.00 in Kampala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Kampala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $406 in Fort Portal and $760 in Kampala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Fort Portal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Fort Portal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kampala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.