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: $758 in Kampala versus $585 in Entebbe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Kampala versus $905 in Entebbe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Kampala versus $1,226 in Entebbe.

Living in Kampala is roughly 30% more expensive than in Entebbe, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 43% lower, Entebbe 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 UGX 10.4K

$2.79 UGX 10.2K

2.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.42 UGX 96.4K

$26.24 UGX 95.7K

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 UGX 32.3K

$8.39 UGX 30.6K

5.36%

Cappuccino

$2.75 UGX 10.0K

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

$0.51 UGX 1,854

$0.48 UGX 1,736

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,146

$0.31 UGX 1,139

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 UGX 4,957

$1.43 UGX 5,208

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 9,931

$2.81 UGX 10.3K

-3.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 UGX 2,788

$0.69 UGX 2,532

10.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,545

$1.20 UGX 4,387

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 4,906

$1.39 UGX 5,057

-2.88%

Eggs

$1.84 UGX 6,703

$1.81 UGX 6,617

1.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 UGX 16.1K

$4.41 UGX 16.1K

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 UGX 18.2K

$4.93 UGX 18.0K

1.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 UGX 15.5K

$4.13 UGX 15.1K

2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 UGX 10.2K

$2.71 UGX 9,890

3.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,532

$1.48 UGX 5,385

2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 UGX 6,357

$1.68 UGX 6,137

3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 UGX 5,607

$1.61 UGX 5,855

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 5,829

$1.65 UGX 6,030

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 UGX 6,978

$1.93 UGX 7,033

-1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,858

$1.01 UGX 3,701

4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 UGX 2,144

$0.54 UGX 1,984

9.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 UGX 10.8K

$2.85 UGX 10.4K

3.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.39 UGX 34.2K

$9.51 UGX 34.7K

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 UGX 4,537

$1.22 UGX 4,466

1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 UGX 7,850

$2.15 UGX 7,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 UGX 3,172

$0.58 UGX 2,118

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.06 UGX 149.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 1,965

$0.58 UGX 2,130

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 939

$0.28 UGX 1,024

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 UGX 15.5K

$4.12 UGX 15.0K

3.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 UGX 5,248

$1.36 UGX 4,970

5.88%

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

$8,875 UGX 32.4M

$9,166 UGX 33.4M

-3.18%

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

$8,906 UGX 32.5M

$8,744 UGX 31.9M

1.86%

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

$41.98 UGX 153.1K

$42.20 UGX 153.9K

-0.52%

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

$14.16 UGX 51.7K

$14.26 UGX 52.0K

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.44 UGX 162.1K

$43.43 UGX 158.4K

2.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.49 UGX 173.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 UGX 27.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 UGX 22.4K

$6.22 UGX 22.7K

-1.29%

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

$160 UGX 585.3K

$158 UGX 576.0K

1.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,397 UGX 16.0M

$4,368 UGX 15.9M

0.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.05 UGX 62.2K

$17.04 UGX 62.2K

0.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.42 UGX 52.6K

$14.32 UGX 52.2K

0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.09 UGX 138.9K

$38.52 UGX 140.5K

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.12 UGX 168.2K

$46.88 UGX 171.0K

-1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 UGX 1.5M

$252 UGX 920.0K

57.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 UGX 809.4K

$137 UGX 499.4K

62.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 UGX 3.7M

$410 UGX 1.5M

147.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 UGX 1.2M

$280 UGX 1.0M

21.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 UGX 4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,018 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 UGX 685.8K

$132 UGX 480.8K

42.64%

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 Kampala: June 14, 2026

Last update for Entebbe: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Kampala and $252 in Entebbe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kampala pays 43% 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: $26.00 in Kampala vs $26.00 in Entebbe. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $168, with Entebbe cheaper for home cooking.

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 30% in total monthly costs ($758 vs $585 including rent). Entebbe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 43% 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: $399 in Kampala versus $252 in Entebbe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Kampala. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $758 per month in Kampala versus $585 in Entebbe – a 30% 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 30% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.