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 $395 per month in Fort Portal vs $674 in Kampala, rent included.

A couple spends around $618 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,045 in Kampala, rent included.

A family of three spends $842 per month in Fort Portal vs $1,417 in Kampala, rent included.

Fort Portal is about 41% cheaper than Kampala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fort Portal and Kampala are more affordable than the global median – Fort Portal 71% lower, Kampala 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.47 UGX 9,981

$2.54 UGX 10.3K

-2.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.13 UGX 101.5K

$25.10 UGX 101.4K

0.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 UGX 30.0K

$7.40 UGX 29.9K

0.41%

Cappuccino

$2.58 UGX 10.4K

$2.57 UGX 10.4K

0.39%

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

$0.39 UGX 1,563

$0.38 UGX 1,540

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UGX 1,145

$0.26 UGX 1,042

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 UGX 5,085

$1.21 UGX 4,903

4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 UGX 7,775

$1.92 UGX 7,736

0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.29 UGX 1,152

$0.76 UGX 3,064

-61.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 UGX 3,153

$0.95 UGX 3,827

-17.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 UGX 4,083

$1.33 UGX 5,352

-24.06%

Eggs

$1.21 UGX 4,872

$1.64 UGX 6,621

-26.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 UGX 17.7K

$4.37 UGX 17.7K

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 UGX 18.4K

$4.60 UGX 18.6K

-1.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.16 UGX 12.8K

$4.87 UGX 19.7K

-35.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 UGX 8,357

$2.19 UGX 8,856

-5.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 UGX 2,956

$1.24 UGX 5,025

-41.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 UGX 5,185

$1.30 UGX 5,245

-1.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 UGX 4,903

$1.22 UGX 4,921

-0.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 UGX 4,896

$1.21 UGX 4,905

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 UGX 2,438

$1.25 UGX 5,053

-52.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 UGX 3,009

$0.78 UGX 3,163

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 UGX 2,084

$0.50 UGX 2,017

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 UGX 9,952

$2.51 UGX 10.2K

-1.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.09 UGX 20.6K

$7.54 UGX 30.4K

-32.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 UGX 2,951

$1.10 UGX 4,452

-33.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 UGX 3,959

$1.95 UGX 7,868

-49.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 UGX 2,909

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 UGX 172.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 UGX 2,085

$0.51 UGX 2,069

1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 UGX 1,191

$0.32 UGX 1,295

-9.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 UGX 12.3K

$3.19 UGX 12.9K

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 UGX 5,044

$1.45 UGX 5,857

-13.79%

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

$7,424 UGX 30.0M

$7,493 UGX 30.3M

-0.91%

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

$7,539 UGX 30.4M

$7,453 UGX 30.1M

1.15%

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

$70.0 UGX 282.9K

$70.9 UGX 286.5K

-1.27%

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

$11.65 UGX 47.1K

$11.85 UGX 47.9K

-1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.22 UGX 142.3K

$35.59 UGX 143.8K

-1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 UGX 229.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 UGX 24.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 UGX 29.9K

$7.54 UGX 30.4K

-1.86%

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

$250 UGX 1.0M

$254 UGX 1.0M

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,215 UGX 33.2M

$8,231 UGX 33.2M

-0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.18 UGX 57.3K

$14.16 UGX 57.2K

0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.19 UGX 53.3K

$13.02 UGX 52.6K

1.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.51 UGX 131.3K

$32.01 UGX 129.3K

1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.55 UGX 179.9K

$43.76 UGX 176.7K

1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 UGX 2.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 UGX 693.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 UGX 4.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 UGX 1.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,214 UGX 4.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$983 UGX 4.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 UGX 711.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.75

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

Last update for Fort Portal: October 4, 2026

Last update for Kampala: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Fort Portal versus $25.00 in Kampala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $149 – 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 71% 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 $592 per month in Fort Portal and $1,011 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 $25.00 in Fort Portal and $25.00 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 $395 in Fort Portal and $674 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.