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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $130 per month in Gulu vs $398 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A couple spends around $189 per month in Gulu vs $653 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A family of three spends $248 per month in Gulu vs $908 in Fort Portal, rent included.

Gulu is about 67% cheaper than Fort Portal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gulu and Fort Portal are more affordable than the global median – Gulu 90% lower, Fort Portal 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.41 UGX 5,320

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-50.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.94 UGX 101.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 UGX 47.7K

$8.51 UGX 32.0K

48.88%

Cappuccino

$2.80 UGX 10.5K

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

3.32%

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

$0.29 UGX 1,091

$0.50 UGX 1,885

-42.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 UGX 541

$0.31 UGX 1,173

-54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 UGX 3,222

$1.36 UGX 5,116

-36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

$2.77 UGX 10.4K

-1.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.32 UGX 1,197

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 UGX 3,077

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 UGX 4,112

Eggs

$1.37 UGX 5,139

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 UGX 19.3K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 UGX 13.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 UGX 10.1K

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 UGX 3,161

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,212

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 UGX 5,189

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 6,014

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 UGX 2,737

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,844

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,185

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 UGX 11.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$5.38 UGX 20.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 UGX 3,044

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 UGX 4,267

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 UGX 4,136

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.84 UGX 123.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,169

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,064

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 UGX 16.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 UGX 5,182

$1.45 UGX 5,438

-4.83%

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

$9,032 UGX 34.0M

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

$8,657 UGX 32.6M

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

$42.61 UGX 160.2K

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

$14.50 UGX 54.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.44 UGX 163.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 UGX 23.2K

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

$162 UGX 609.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,251 UGX 16.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.23 UGX 64.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.01 UGX 52.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.03 UGX 146.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.73 UGX 175.7K

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 Gulu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Portal: June 1, 2026

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

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

Fort Portal costs about 206% more than Gulu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $195 per month in Gulu and $596 in Fort Portal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $130 in Gulu and $398 in Fort Portal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Gulu – 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 Gulu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Portal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.