Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Entebbe Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Entebbe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in Kampala versus $567 in Entebbe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Kampala versus $875 in Entebbe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Kampala versus $1,182 in Entebbe.

Living in Kampala is roughly 27% more expensive than in Entebbe, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 48% lower, Entebbe 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 UGX 10.2K

$2.61 UGX 10.1K

0.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.64 UGX 102.9K

$26.98 UGX 104.2K

-1.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 UGX 29.5K

$7.49 UGX 28.9K

2.00%

Cappuccino

$2.61 UGX 10.1K

$2.08 UGX 8,031

25.48%

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

$0.42 UGX 1,638

$0.27 UGX 1,053

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UGX 1,072

$0.27 UGX 1,045

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 UGX 5,217

$0.97 UGX 3,752

39.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 UGX 7,042

$1.35 UGX 5,219

34.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 UGX 3,023

$0.86 UGX 3,323

-9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 UGX 3,864

$0.96 UGX 3,692

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,181

$1.34 UGX 5,180

Eggs

$1.51 UGX 5,848

$1.57 UGX 6,062

-3.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.69 UGX 18.1K

$4.77 UGX 18.4K

-1.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 UGX 19.6K

$5.03 UGX 19.4K

1.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 UGX 20.5K

$5.13 UGX 19.8K

3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 UGX 8,341

$2.08 UGX 8,036

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 UGX 4,507

$1.21 UGX 4,667

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 5,214

$1.35 UGX 5,211

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 UGX 4,806

$1.26 UGX 4,849

-1.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 UGX 5,082

$1.30 UGX 5,041

1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,247

$1.36 UGX 5,253

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 UGX 3,014

$0.79 UGX 3,052

-1.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 UGX 2,161

$0.53 UGX 2,033

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 UGX 9,976

$2.72 UGX 10.5K

-5.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 UGX 31.3K

$8.07 UGX 31.2K

0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 UGX 4,172

$1.08 UGX 4,163

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 UGX 7,652

$2.07 UGX 7,979

-4.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 UGX 3,165

$0.52 UGX 1,995

57.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.24 UGX 178.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 UGX 2,132

$0.52 UGX 1,993

5.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 UGX 1,226

$0.34 UGX 1,331

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 UGX 12.6K

$3.26 UGX 12.6K

-0.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 UGX 5,452

$1.30 UGX 5,031

8.46%

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

$7,845 UGX 30.3M

$7,892 UGX 30.5M

-0.60%

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

$7,825 UGX 30.2M

$8,015 UGX 31.0M

-2.37%

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

$74.2 UGX 286.6K

$75.0 UGX 289.9K

-1.11%

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

$12.74 UGX 49.2K

$12.28 UGX 47.4K

3.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.59 UGX 145.2K

$37.34 UGX 144.3K

0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.4 UGX 225.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 UGX 24.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 UGX 30.3K

$8.03 UGX 31.0K

-2.37%

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

$257 UGX 992.8K

$256 UGX 988.5K

0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,416 UGX 32.5M

$8,525 UGX 32.9M

-1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.99 UGX 57.9K

$14.77 UGX 57.1K

1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.77 UGX 53.2K

$13.76 UGX 53.1K

0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.79 UGX 130.6K

$34.51 UGX 133.3K

-2.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 UGX 179.3K

$45.72 UGX 176.7K

1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 UGX 2.0M

$238 UGX 919.7K

119.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 UGX 697.8K

$135 UGX 520.9K

33.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 UGX 4.4M

$403 UGX 1.6M

184.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 UGX 1.3M

$268 UGX 1.0M

25.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,250 UGX 4.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$983 UGX 3.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 UGX 735.2K

$132 UGX 511.6K

43.70%

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 Kampala: September 6, 2026

Last update for Entebbe: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $523 in Kampala and $238 in Entebbe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kampala pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Kampala vs $27.00 in Entebbe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $156 per month, with Kampala cheaper across the board.

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

Kampala vs Entebbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kampala and Entebbe differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($720 vs $567 including rent). Entebbe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Kampala, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $523 in Kampala versus $238 in Entebbe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Kampala. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $720 per month in Kampala versus $567 in Entebbe – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Entebbe gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Entebbe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.