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 $402 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,120 per month in Kampala vs $648 in Fort Portal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,484 per month in Kampala vs $895 in Fort Portal, rent included.

Kampala costs about 88% 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

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

$2.80 UGX 10.5K

-2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.38 UGX 98.8K

$26.77 UGX 100.2K

-1.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 UGX 31.8K

$8.67 UGX 32.5K

-2.08%

Cappuccino

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

$2.87 UGX 10.7K

-4.18%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,774

$0.47 UGX 1,775

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,162

$0.31 UGX 1,169

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 UGX 5,284

$1.41 UGX 5,264

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 UGX 2,799

$0.32 UGX 1,189

134.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 UGX 4,710

$0.82 UGX 3,066

53.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 UGX 5,215

$1.08 UGX 4,051

28.70%

Eggs

$1.82 UGX 6,799

$1.42 UGX 5,310

28.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 UGX 16.5K

$4.40 UGX 16.5K

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 UGX 18.3K

$5.04 UGX 18.9K

-2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.1K

$3.71 UGX 13.9K

15.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

$2.78 UGX 10.4K

-1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,699

$0.81 UGX 3,016

87.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,177

$1.67 UGX 6,265

-1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 5,978

$1.37 UGX 5,122

16.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 UGX 6,096

$1.57 UGX 5,892

3.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UGX 7,275

$0.68 UGX 2,562

185.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,811

$1.02 UGX 3,807

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,164

$0.53 UGX 1,994

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 UGX 11.1K

$2.98 UGX 11.2K

-0.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 UGX 29.5K

$5.27 UGX 19.7K

49.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,443

$0.82 UGX 3,068

45.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 UGX 7,662

$1.12 UGX 4,211

83.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,005

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.55 UGX 155.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 2,036

$0.58 UGX 2,154

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 967

$0.26 UGX 960

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 UGX 15.2K

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

-0.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,595

$1.43 UGX 5,342

4.20%

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

$8,932 UGX 33.4M

$9,146 UGX 34.2M

-2.34%

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

$8,754 UGX 32.8M

$8,828 UGX 33.1M

-0.83%

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

$42.28 UGX 158.3K

$41.55 UGX 155.6K

1.76%

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

$14.18 UGX 53.1K

$14.11 UGX 52.8K

0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.65 UGX 167.2K

$43.62 UGX 163.3K

2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.20 UGX 180.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 UGX 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 UGX 24.1K

$6.21 UGX 23.2K

3.54%

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

$161 UGX 602.7K

$158 UGX 592.5K

1.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,321 UGX 16.2M

$4,376 UGX 16.4M

-1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.12 UGX 64.1K

$17.04 UGX 63.8K

0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.08 UGX 52.7K

$14.02 UGX 52.5K

0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.57 UGX 144.4K

$38.75 UGX 145.1K

-0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.90 UGX 175.6K

$46.17 UGX 172.9K

1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 UGX 813.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 UGX 3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,209 UGX 4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$986 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 UGX 724.3K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Fort Portal: July 26, 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 – $166 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 88% 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 $603 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 $402 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.