🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $729 in Kampala versus $2,394 in Lichfield.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Kampala versus $3,467 in Lichfield.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,478 in Kampala versus $4,540 in Lichfield.
🌍Living in Kampala costs roughly 70% less than in Lichfield, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kampala is 47% below, Lichfield is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.59UGX 9,775
$21.23£15.71
-87.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.69UGX 100.7K
$87.5£64.8
-69.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.68UGX 29.0K
$9.48£7.01
-18.99%
Cappuccino
$2.63UGX 9,918
$4.72£3.49
-44.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39UGX 1,473
$2.37£1.75
-83.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30UGX 1,149
$1.34£0.99
-77.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28UGX 4,838
$6.95£5.14
-81.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90UGX 7,185
$5.46£4.04
-65.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83UGX 3,150
$1.76£1.30
-52.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97UGX 3,680
$1.58£1.17
-38.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39UGX 5,256
$2.24£1.66
-37.95%
Eggs
$1.56UGX 5,905
$3.91£2.89
-60.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.74UGX 17.9K
$9.63£7.12
-50.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.81UGX 18.2K
$8.82£6.52
-45.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.12UGX 19.3K
$15.12£11.19
-66.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07UGX 7,800
$2.56£1.89
-19.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16UGX 4,379
$1.51£1.12
-23.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39UGX 5,230
$2.52£1.86
-44.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25UGX 4,703
$3.72£2.75
-66.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27UGX 4,780
$1.62£1.20
-21.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34UGX 5,054
$1.61£1.19
-16.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82UGX 3,109
$1.18£0.87
-30.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52UGX 1,967
$1.51£1.12
-65.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71UGX 10.2K
$21.07£15.59
-87.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99UGX 30.2K
$11.48£8.49
-30.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05UGX 3,956
$2.57£1.90
-59.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08UGX 7,862
$3.36£2.49
-38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78UGX 2,930
$3.51£2.59
-77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.89UGX 173.2K
$96.2£71.2
-52.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.55UGX 2,069
$5.12£3.79
-89.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32UGX 1,207
$2.38£1.76
-86.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.21UGX 12.1K
$24.28£17.96
-86.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40UGX 5,294
$2.06£1.52
-32.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,946UGX 30.0M
$40.0K£29.6K
-80.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,949UGX 30.0M
$41.1K£30.4K
-80.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.2UGX 283.9K
$326£241
-76.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.31UGX 46.5K
$16.66£12.33
-26.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.19UGX 140.4K
$49.09£36.32
-24.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.3UGX 223.9K
$47.75£35.32
24.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.44UGX 24.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.02UGX 30.3K
$12.34£9.13
-35.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$256UGX 964.5K
$1,272£941
-79.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,498UGX 32.1M
$24.6K£18.2K
-65.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.07UGX 56.9K
$85.6£63.4
-82.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.60UGX 51.3K
$43.57£32.23
-68.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.02UGX 128.4K
$106£78.1
-67.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.25UGX 174.6K
$108£80.0
-57.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$517UGX 2.0M
$1,274£942
-59.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182UGX 686.9K
$1,033£764
-82.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,142UGX 4.3M
$1,387£1,026
-17.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327UGX 1.2M
$1,735£1,283
-81.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,207UGX 4.6M
$5,194£3,843
-76.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$987UGX 3.7M
$4,235£3,133
-76.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampala
Lichfield
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$188UGX 708.7K
$4,551£3,367
-95.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.75
5.33
289.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kampala: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lichfield: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $517 in Kampala and $1,274 in Lichfield. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lichfield pays 2324% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Kampala vs $88.0 in Lichfield for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $300 per month, with Kampala cheaper across the board.
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 Lichfield: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lichfield cheaper than Kampala?
Kampala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 229% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kampala or Lichfield?
On paper, salaries run 2324% lower in Lichfield. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kampala and Lichfield?
Rent for a central apartment: $517 in Kampala versus $1,274 in Lichfield. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kampala and in Lichfield?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Lichfield. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Kampala or in Lichfield?
Dining out is cheaper in Kampala – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $88.0 in Lichfield. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kampala or in Lichfield?
At $729 in Kampala versus $2,394 in Lichfield, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kampala but tight or insufficient in Lichfield. The gap between the two cities makes Kampala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Kampala or in Lichfield?
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.
Which city is safer, Kampala or Lichfield?
Safety-wise, Kampala and Lichfield are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kampala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Lichfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.