Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Entebbe

For one person, living is cheaper in Entebbe: $512 a month against $616 in Kampala, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kampala, Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda
Kampala
🇺🇬 Uganda
$616
/mo nomad
Entebbe
🇺🇬 Uganda
$512
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kampala and in Entebbe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kampala and in Entebbe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Kampala versus $512 in Entebbe.

  • Kampala $616
  • Entebbe $512

Estimated couple costs with rent: $940 in Kampala versus $803 in Entebbe.

  • Kampala $940
  • Entebbe $803

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,263 in Kampala versus $1,095 in Entebbe.

  • Kampala $1,263
  • Entebbe $1,095

Living in Kampala is roughly 20% more expensive than in Entebbe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 55% lower, Entebbe 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.19 UGX 9,606
$2.47 UGX 10.8K
-11.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.69 UGX 99.4K
$23.92 UGX 104.8K
-5.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.82 UGX 29.9K
$6.84 UGX 30.0K
-0.29%
Cappuccino
$2.28 UGX 9,980
$1.93 UGX 8,465
18.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 UGX 1,387
$0.23 UGX 1,002
39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 UGX 1,002
$0.23 UGX 1,000
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 UGX 4,979
$0.87 UGX 3,797
31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 UGX 7,407
$1.22 UGX 5,322
38.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 UGX 2,978
$0.76 UGX 3,331
-10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 UGX 3,517
$0.93 UGX 4,055
-13.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 UGX 5,374
$1.26 UGX 5,524
-2.38%
Eggs
$1.47 UGX 6,424
$1.58 UGX 6,911
-6.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.93 UGX 17.2K
$4.19 UGX 18.4K
-6.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.97 UGX 17.4K
$4.54 UGX 19.9K
-12.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.53 UGX 19.8K
$4.87 UGX 21.3K
-6.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 UGX 8,196
$2.01 UGX 8,792
-6.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 UGX 5,587
$1.20 UGX 5,258
6.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 UGX 5,034
$1.24 UGX 5,449
-7.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 UGX 4,922
$1.19 UGX 5,231
-5.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 UGX 4,991
$1.22 UGX 5,351
-6.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 UGX 4,983
$1.18 UGX 5,162
-3.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 UGX 2,898
$0.72 UGX 3,148
-8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 UGX 1,964
$0.47 UGX 2,049
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 UGX 9,512
$2.34 UGX 10.3K
-7.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.80 UGX 29.8K
$7.07 UGX 31.0K
-3.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 UGX 4,451
$1.09 UGX 4,779
-6.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 UGX 7,471
$1.89 UGX 8,282
-9.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 UGX 3,002
$0.47 UGX 2,045
46.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.32 UGX 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 UGX 1,902
$0.46 UGX 2,032
-6.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 UGX 1,270
$0.31 UGX 1,363
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 UGX 12.3K
$2.96 UGX 13.0K
-5.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 UGX 5,479
$1.18 UGX 5,168
5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$6,811 UGX 29.8M
$7,146 UGX 31.3M
-4.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$6,696 UGX 29.3M
$7,325 UGX 32.1M
-8.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.4 UGX 282.0K
$67.4 UGX 295.2K
-4.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73 UGX 47.0K
$11.16 UGX 48.9K
-3.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03 UGX 140.3K
$34.41 UGX 150.7K
-6.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 UGX 223.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.36 UGX 23.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.87 UGX 30.1K
$7.31 UGX 32.0K
-6.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$260 UGX 1.1M
$249 UGX 1.1M
4.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,974 UGX 34.9M
$8,238 UGX 36.1M
-3.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.71 UGX 55.7K
$13.60 UGX 59.6K
-6.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.92 UGX 52.2K
$12.50 UGX 54.8K
-4.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$28.62 UGX 125.4K
$31.80 UGX 139.3K
-10.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.91 UGX 170.4K
$42.31 UGX 185.3K
-8.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 UGX 2.0M
$215 UGX 941.9K
113.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 UGX 661.9K
$119 UGX 520.4K
27.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,151 UGX 5.0M
$355 UGX 1.6M
224.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 UGX 1.2M
$245 UGX 1.1M
9.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,194 UGX 5.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$922 UGX 4.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampala
Entebbe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$160 UGX 700.7K
$118 UGX 518.3K
35.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.75
20.75
-

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

Last update for Kampala: October 25, 2026

Last update for Entebbe: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kampala
$151
Entebbe
$119 21.4% $32
Groceries & Markets
Kampala
$134
Entebbe
$144 7.7% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
$107
Entebbe
$113 5.4% $5.8
Eating Out
Kampala
$77
Entebbe
$72 5.9% $4.5
Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
$65
Entebbe
$15 * 77.4% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
$41
Entebbe
$45 8.7% $3.6
Getting Around
Kampala
$41
Entebbe
$3.9 * 90.5% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $458 in Kampala and $215 in Entebbe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kampala pays 35% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $23 in Kampala vs $24 in Entebbe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $144 per month, with Kampala cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇬 Kampala
🇺🇬 Entebbe
🕒 Local time
16:04 4:04 PM
16:04 4:04 PM
Same time as Kampala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,516,210 Capital
69,958
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to UGX – Ugandan Shilling Converter

Ugandan Shilling exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 4,380 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.28 USD). 1 EUR = 4,888 UGX (10,000 UGX = 2.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kampala Entebbe 31 km
From you
  • Kampala
  • Entebbe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Kampala and in Entebbe?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $616 in Kampala and $512 in Entebbe, so Entebbe is about 17% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kampala or Entebbe?
Average pay runs 35% higher in Kampala, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kampala and in Entebbe?
Rent for a central apartment: $458 in Kampala versus $215 in Entebbe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Kampala pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kampala or Entebbe?
All in, you’ll spend $616 per month in Kampala versus $512 in Entebbe – Entebbe is about 17% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $1,200 go in Kampala compared to Entebbe?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Kampala and Entebbe?
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.
How do I decide between Kampala and Entebbe?
It comes down to priorities – Entebbe wins on affordability, Kampala on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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