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 $402 per month in Fort Portal vs $756 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $648 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,120 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $895 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,484 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

$2.80 UGX 10.5K

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.77 UGX 100.2K

$26.38 UGX 98.8K

1.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.67 UGX 32.5K

$8.49 UGX 31.8K

2.12%

Cappuccino

$2.87 UGX 10.7K

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

4.36%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,775

$0.47 UGX 1,774

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,169

$0.31 UGX 1,162

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 UGX 5,264

$1.41 UGX 5,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-3.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.32 UGX 1,189

$0.75 UGX 2,799

-57.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 UGX 3,066

$1.26 UGX 4,710

-34.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 UGX 4,051

$1.39 UGX 5,215

-22.30%

Eggs

$1.42 UGX 5,310

$1.82 UGX 6,799

-21.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 UGX 16.5K

$4.41 UGX 16.5K

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 UGX 18.9K

$4.89 UGX 18.3K

3.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.71 UGX 13.9K

$4.30 UGX 16.1K

-13.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 UGX 10.4K

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

1.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 UGX 3,016

$1.52 UGX 5,699

-46.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 UGX 6,265

$1.65 UGX 6,177

1.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 UGX 5,122

$1.60 UGX 5,978

-14.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 UGX 5,892

$1.63 UGX 6,096

-3.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 UGX 2,562

$1.94 UGX 7,275

-64.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,807

$1.02 UGX 3,811

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,994

$0.58 UGX 2,164

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 UGX 11.2K

$2.96 UGX 11.1K

0.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.27 UGX 19.7K

$7.87 UGX 29.5K

-33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 UGX 3,068

$1.19 UGX 4,443

-31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 UGX 4,211

$2.05 UGX 7,662

-45.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,005

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.55 UGX 155.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,154

$0.54 UGX 2,036

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 960

$0.26 UGX 967

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

$4.07 UGX 15.2K

0.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 UGX 5,342

$1.49 UGX 5,595

-4.03%

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

$9,146 UGX 34.2M

$8,932 UGX 33.4M

2.40%

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

$8,828 UGX 33.1M

$8,754 UGX 32.8M

0.84%

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

$41.55 UGX 155.6K

$42.28 UGX 158.3K

-1.73%

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

$14.11 UGX 52.8K

$14.18 UGX 53.1K

-0.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.62 UGX 163.3K

$44.65 UGX 167.2K

-2.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.20 UGX 180.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 UGX 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 UGX 23.2K

$6.43 UGX 24.1K

-3.42%

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

$158 UGX 592.5K

$161 UGX 602.7K

-1.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,376 UGX 16.4M

$4,321 UGX 16.2M

1.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.04 UGX 63.8K

$17.12 UGX 64.1K

-0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.02 UGX 52.5K

$14.08 UGX 52.7K

-0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.75 UGX 145.1K

$38.57 UGX 144.4K

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.17 UGX 172.9K

$46.90 UGX 175.6K

-1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 UGX 813.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 UGX 3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,209 UGX 4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$986 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 UGX 724.3K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kampala: July 25, 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 $166 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 88% 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 $603 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 $402 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.