Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Lira Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Lira

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $756 in Kampala versus $430 in Lira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,120 in Kampala versus $686 in Lira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Kampala versus $943 in Lira.

Living in Kampala is roughly 76% more expensive than in Lira, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 43% lower, Lira 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.38 UGX 98.8K

$26.88 UGX 100.6K

-1.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 UGX 31.8K

$8.54 UGX 32.0K

-0.59%

Cappuccino

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

1.10%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,774

$0.27 UGX 1,008

74.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,162

$0.27 UGX 1,006

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 UGX 5,284

$0.84 UGX 3,158

67.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

$2.71 UGX 10.1K

4.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 UGX 2,799

$0.72 UGX 2,678

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 UGX 4,710

$1.19 UGX 4,473

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 UGX 5,215

$1.33 UGX 4,985

4.51%

Eggs

$1.82 UGX 6,799

$1.81 UGX 6,795

0.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 UGX 16.5K

$4.20 UGX 15.7K

5.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 UGX 18.3K

$5.07 UGX 19.0K

-3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.1K

$4.35 UGX 16.3K

-1.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.2K

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,699

$1.49 UGX 5,566

2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,177

$1.75 UGX 6,547

-5.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 5,978

$1.58 UGX 5,922

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 UGX 6,096

$1.57 UGX 5,865

3.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UGX 7,275

$1.93 UGX 7,218

0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,811

$1.05 UGX 3,949

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,164

$0.54 UGX 2,032

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 UGX 11.1K

$2.90 UGX 10.9K

2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 UGX 29.5K

$8.12 UGX 30.4K

-3.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,443

$1.24 UGX 4,644

-4.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 UGX 7,662

$2.06 UGX 7,708

-0.49%

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

$0.57 UGX 2,135

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 967

$0.26 UGX 964

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 UGX 15.2K

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

-1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,595

$1.50 UGX 5,599

-0.67%

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

$8,932 UGX 33.4M

$9,050 UGX 33.9M

-1.30%

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

$8,754 UGX 32.8M

$8,631 UGX 32.3M

1.43%

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

$42.28 UGX 158.3K

$42.95 UGX 160.8K

-1.56%

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

$14.18 UGX 53.1K

$14.30 UGX 53.5K

-0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.65 UGX 167.2K

$43.05 UGX 161.2K

3.72%

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

$6.41 UGX 24.0K

0.31%

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

$161 UGX 602.7K

$161 UGX 601.9K

0.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,321 UGX 16.2M

$4,383 UGX 16.4M

-1.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.12 UGX 64.1K

$17.24 UGX 64.6K

-0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.08 UGX 52.7K

$14.40 UGX 53.9K

-2.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.57 UGX 144.4K

$39.05 UGX 146.2K

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.90 UGX 175.6K

$47.91 UGX 179.4K

-2.11%

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 Lira: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Kampala vs $27.00 in Lira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $166 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 Lira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lira is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,134 in Kampala and $644 in Lira 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.

Childcare runs $161 in Kampala versus $161 in Lira. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lira – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $26.00 in Kampala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Lira 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 Lira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.