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 $756 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $645 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,133 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $884 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,511 in Kampala, rent included.

Fort Portal is about 46% 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 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 UGX 10.3K

$2.79 UGX 10.5K

-1.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.82 UGX 100.5K

$26.40 UGX 98.9K

1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 UGX 32.7K

$8.49 UGX 31.8K

2.83%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.7K

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

1.06%

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

$0.51 UGX 1,893

$0.48 UGX 1,787

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,165

$0.31 UGX 1,170

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 UGX 5,064

$1.37 UGX 5,123

-1.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.34 UGX 1,289

$0.76 UGX 2,834

-55.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 UGX 3,240

$1.24 UGX 4,653

-30.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 UGX 4,258

$1.34 UGX 5,014

-14.93%

Eggs

$1.42 UGX 5,309

$1.77 UGX 6,618

-19.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.44 UGX 16.6K

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

3.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.03 UGX 18.8K

$4.87 UGX 18.2K

3.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 UGX 13.2K

$4.14 UGX 15.5K

-15.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 UGX 10.1K

$2.74 UGX 10.3K

-2.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 UGX 3,051

$1.51 UGX 5,663

-46.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 UGX 6,216

$1.72 UGX 6,439

-3.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,095

$1.55 UGX 5,799

-12.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 UGX 5,902

$1.59 UGX 5,970

-1.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 UGX 2,692

$1.87 UGX 6,993

-61.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 UGX 3,854

$1.02 UGX 3,817

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 UGX 2,046

$0.58 UGX 2,175

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 UGX 11.1K

$2.85 UGX 10.7K

4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.21 UGX 19.5K

$8.75 UGX 32.8K

-40.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 UGX 3,150

$1.24 UGX 4,665

-32.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 UGX 4,092

$2.05 UGX 7,677

-46.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,012

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.41 UGX 159.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 2,033

$0.54 UGX 2,041

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,059

$0.26 UGX 974

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.24 UGX 15.9K

$4.14 UGX 15.5K

2.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 UGX 5,145

$1.49 UGX 5,593

-8.05%

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

$9,009 UGX 33.8M

$8,864 UGX 33.2M

1.64%

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

$8,914 UGX 33.4M

$8,814 UGX 33.0M

1.14%

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

$42.82 UGX 160.5K

$42.83 UGX 160.5K

-0.02%

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

$14.37 UGX 53.8K

$14.23 UGX 53.3K

0.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.08 UGX 165.2K

$43.80 UGX 164.2K

0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.37 UGX 177.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 UGX 26.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.23 UGX 23.3K

$6.09 UGX 22.8K

2.30%

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

$158 UGX 592.9K

$160 UGX 598.0K

-0.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,290 UGX 16.1M

$4,273 UGX 16.0M

0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.76 UGX 62.8K

$16.73 UGX 62.7K

0.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.42 UGX 54.1K

$14.13 UGX 53.0K

2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.49 UGX 144.3K

$38.57 UGX 144.6K

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.26 UGX 177.1K

$47.67 UGX 178.7K

-0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 UGX 823.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 UGX 3.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,245 UGX 4.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$997 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 UGX 731.5K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kampala: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Fort Portal versus $26.00 in Kampala. Groceries tell a different story – $137 in Fort Portal vs $167 in Kampala – so Fort Portal 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

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

Kampala costs about 86% 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 $1,134 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 $27.00 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 22% 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 $756 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.