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 $756 per month in Kampala vs $406 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Kampala vs $645 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Kampala vs $884 in Fort Portal, rent included.

Kampala costs about 86% more than Fort Portal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kampala and Fort Portal are more affordable than the global median – Kampala 44% lower, Fort Portal 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 UGX 10.5K

$2.74 UGX 10.3K

1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 UGX 98.9K

$26.82 UGX 100.5K

-1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 UGX 31.8K

$8.73 UGX 32.7K

-2.75%

Cappuccino

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

$2.85 UGX 10.7K

-1.05%

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

$0.48 UGX 1,787

$0.51 UGX 1,893

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,170

$0.31 UGX 1,165

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 UGX 5,123

$1.35 UGX 5,064

1.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 UGX 2,834

$0.34 UGX 1,289

123.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 UGX 4,653

$0.86 UGX 3,240

44.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,014

$1.14 UGX 4,258

17.54%

Eggs

$1.77 UGX 6,618

$1.42 UGX 5,309

24.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

$4.44 UGX 16.6K

-3.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 UGX 18.2K

$5.03 UGX 18.8K

-3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.14 UGX 15.5K

$3.51 UGX 13.2K

17.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 UGX 10.3K

$2.68 UGX 10.1K

2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 UGX 5,663

$0.81 UGX 3,051

86.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 UGX 6,439

$1.66 UGX 6,216

3.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 UGX 5,799

$1.36 UGX 5,095

13.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 UGX 5,970

$1.57 UGX 5,902

1.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 UGX 6,993

$0.72 UGX 2,692

159.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,817

$1.03 UGX 3,854

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,175

$0.55 UGX 2,046

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 UGX 10.7K

$2.97 UGX 11.1K

-4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 UGX 32.8K

$5.21 UGX 19.5K

67.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 UGX 4,665

$0.84 UGX 3,150

47.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 UGX 7,677

$1.09 UGX 4,092

88.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,012

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.41 UGX 159.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 2,041

$0.54 UGX 2,033

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 974

$0.28 UGX 1,059

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 UGX 15.5K

$4.24 UGX 15.9K

-2.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,593

$1.37 UGX 5,145

8.76%

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

$8,864 UGX 33.2M

$9,009 UGX 33.8M

-1.62%

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

$8,814 UGX 33.0M

$8,914 UGX 33.4M

-1.13%

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

$42.83 UGX 160.5K

$42.82 UGX 160.5K

0.02%

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

$14.23 UGX 53.3K

$14.37 UGX 53.8K

-0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.80 UGX 164.2K

$44.08 UGX 165.2K

-0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.37 UGX 177.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 UGX 26.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 UGX 22.8K

$6.23 UGX 23.3K

-2.25%

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

$160 UGX 598.0K

$158 UGX 592.9K

0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,273 UGX 16.0M

$4,290 UGX 16.1M

-0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.73 UGX 62.7K

$16.76 UGX 62.8K

-0.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.13 UGX 53.0K

$14.42 UGX 54.1K

-2.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.57 UGX 144.6K

$38.49 UGX 144.3K

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.67 UGX 178.7K

$47.26 UGX 177.1K

0.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 UGX 823.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 UGX 3.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,245 UGX 4.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$997 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 UGX 731.5K

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 8, 2026

Last update for Fort Portal: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kampala versus $27.00 in Fort Portal. Groceries tell a different story – $167 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 86% 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 $1,134 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 $27.00 in Fort Portal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $756 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.