Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Kasese

For one person, living is cheaper in Kasese: $193 a month against $669 in Kampala, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Kampala
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Kampala Living Index

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Kampala

🇺🇬 Uganda

$669

/mo nomad

Kasese

🇺🇬 Uganda

$193

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kampala and in Kasese

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 Kasese actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $669 in Kampala versus $193 in Kasese.

Kampala $669
Kasese $193

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,022 in Kampala versus $308 in Kasese.

Kampala $1,022
Kasese $308

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,376 in Kampala versus $424 in Kasese.

Kampala $1,376
Kasese $424

Living in Kampala is roughly 248% more expensive than in Kasese, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 50% lower, Kasese 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 UGX 9,669

$1.79 UGX 7,343

31.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.24 UGX 99.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 UGX 30.1K

Cappuccino

$2.48 UGX 10.2K

$2.43 UGX 9,982

2.06%

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

$0.35 UGX 1,433

$0.38 UGX 1,573

-7.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 UGX 1,021

$0.26 UGX 1,071

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 UGX 4,891

$0.77 UGX 3,176

54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 UGX 7,359

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 UGX 3,004

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 UGX 3,709

$1.02 UGX 4,213

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,514

$0.83 UGX 3,429

61.45%

Eggs

$1.60 UGX 6,596

$2.73 UGX 11.2K

-41.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.36 UGX 17.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 UGX 18.8K

$5.05 UGX 20.8K

-9.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.84 UGX 19.9K

$3.78 UGX 15.6K

28.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 UGX 8,718

$2.47 UGX 10.2K

-14.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 UGX 5,238

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 UGX 5,197

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 UGX 4,766

$0.48 UGX 1,970

141.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 UGX 5,103

$0.48 UGX 1,955

158.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 UGX 4,846

$0.49 UGX 1,998

140.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 UGX 3,197

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 UGX 2,145

$0.48 UGX 1,991

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 UGX 9,746

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 UGX 30.4K

$3.71 UGX 15.3K

99.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 UGX 4,416

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 UGX 7,485

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 UGX 2,954

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.77 UGX 171.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 UGX 1,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 UGX 1,182

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 UGX 12.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 UGX 5,746

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

$7,189 UGX 29.6M

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

$7,180 UGX 29.5M

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

$69.3 UGX 285.0K

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

$11.61 UGX 47.8K

$12.59 UGX 51.8K

-7.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.60 UGX 138.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 UGX 222.9K

$25.04 UGX 103.0K

116.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.86 UGX 24.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 UGX 29.2K

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

$248 UGX 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,313 UGX 34.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.54 UGX 55.7K

$12.48 UGX 51.3K

8.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.51 UGX 51.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.32 UGX 128.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.57 UGX 175.1K

$17.65 UGX 72.6K

141.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 UGX 2.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$165 UGX 679.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 UGX 4.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 UGX 1.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,217 UGX 5.0M

$368 UGX 1.5M

230.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$948 UGX 3.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 UGX 709.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.75

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

Last update for Kampala: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kasese: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Kampala

$165 24.7%

Kasese

–

Groceries & Markets

Kampala

$147 22%

Kasese

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kampala

$115 17.1%

Kasese

–

Eating Out

Kampala

$82 12.3%

Kasese

–

Sport & Entertainment

Kampala

$68 10.2%

Kasese

–

Getting Around

Kampala

$47 7%

Kasese

–

Clothing & Footwear

Kampala

$45 6.7%

Kasese

–

Good to know

🇺🇬 Kampala

🇺🇬 Kasese

🕒 Local time

08:08 8:08 AM

Same time as Kampala

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,516,210 Capital

101,679

💱 Currency

Ugandan Shilling UGX Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD

10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR

10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD

10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR

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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 Kasese: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kasese is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 248% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,003 in Kampala and $289 in Kasese to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Kampala. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $669 per month in Kampala versus $193 in Kasese – a 248% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kasese 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 Kasese gentler on the wallet – expenses run 248% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.