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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in Kampala vs $406 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,131 per month in Kampala vs $651 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,503 per month in Kampala vs $896 in Fort Portal, rent included.

Kampala costs about 87% more than Fort Portal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kampala and Fort Portal are more affordable than the global median – Kampala 43% lower, Fort Portal 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 UGX 10.0K

$2.79 UGX 10.4K

-2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.90 UGX 96.0K

$26.21 UGX 97.2K

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 UGX 31.3K

$8.75 UGX 32.4K

-3.54%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.6K

$2.87 UGX 10.6K

-0.70%

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

$0.50 UGX 1,854

$0.48 UGX 1,779

4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,059

$0.31 UGX 1,160

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 UGX 5,019

$1.38 UGX 5,106

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 UGX 10.2K

$2.84 UGX 10.5K

-3.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 UGX 2,790

$0.32 UGX 1,174

134.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 UGX 4,688

$0.80 UGX 2,954

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 4,975

$1.09 UGX 4,026

22.94%

Eggs

$1.85 UGX 6,843

$1.37 UGX 5,065

35.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 UGX 15.6K

$4.20 UGX 15.6K

-0.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 UGX 18.7K

$4.98 UGX 18.5K

1.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.18 UGX 15.5K

$3.60 UGX 13.4K

16.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.81 UGX 10.4K

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 UGX 5,439

$0.85 UGX 3,134

72.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 UGX 6,170

$1.67 UGX 6,174

-0.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UGX 5,675

$1.36 UGX 5,038

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,108

$1.57 UGX 5,803

5.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 UGX 7,128

$0.68 UGX 2,512

182.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,946

$1.06 UGX 3,914

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,976

$0.58 UGX 2,147

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 UGX 10.7K

$2.94 UGX 10.9K

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 UGX 35.3K

$5.50 UGX 20.4K

73.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,423

$0.86 UGX 3,203

38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 UGX 7,695

$1.14 UGX 4,221

82.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 UGX 3,026

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.93 UGX 151.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 1,986

$0.55 UGX 2,024

-1.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,045

$0.26 UGX 960

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.18 UGX 15.5K

$4.06 UGX 15.1K

2.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,531

$1.40 UGX 5,177

6.43%

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

$8,992 UGX 33.3M

$9,042 UGX 33.5M

-0.55%

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

$8,867 UGX 32.9M

$8,608 UGX 31.9M

3.01%

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

$42.71 UGX 158.4K

$42.64 UGX 158.1K

0.16%

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

$14.33 UGX 53.1K

$14.49 UGX 53.7K

-1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.31 UGX 164.3K

$43.07 UGX 159.7K

2.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.66 UGX 180.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 UGX 27.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 UGX 22.7K

$6.31 UGX 23.4K

-2.85%

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

$163 UGX 606.1K

$163 UGX 604.7K

0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,253 UGX 15.8M

-0.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.04 UGX 63.2K

$16.83 UGX 62.4K

1.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.52 UGX 53.8K

$14.30 UGX 53.0K

1.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.71 UGX 143.5K

$37.84 UGX 140.3K

2.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.00 UGX 174.3K

$47.76 UGX 177.1K

-1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 UGX 820.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 UGX 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,241 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 UGX 737.3K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Fort Portal: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kampala versus $26.00 in Fort Portal. Groceries tell a different story – $169 in Kampala vs $137 in Fort Portal – so Fort Portal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fort Portal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kampala costs about 87% 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 $1,140 per month in Kampala and $609 in Fort Portal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kampala and $26.00 in Fort Portal. 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 $760 in Kampala and $406 in Fort Portal, 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.