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: $760 in Kampala versus $428 in Lira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Kampala versus $687 in Lira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,503 in Kampala versus $945 in Lira.

Living in Kampala is roughly 77% more expensive than Lira, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 UGX 10.0K

$2.86 UGX 10.6K

-5.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.90 UGX 96.0K

$26.67 UGX 98.9K

-2.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 UGX 31.3K

$8.65 UGX 32.1K

-2.43%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.6K

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

4.78%

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

$0.50 UGX 1,854

$0.27 UGX 997

85.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,059

$0.27 UGX 992

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 UGX 5,019

$0.86 UGX 3,174

56.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 UGX 10.2K

$2.83 UGX 10.5K

-2.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 UGX 2,790

$0.70 UGX 2,586

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 UGX 4,688

$1.24 UGX 4,613

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 4,975

$1.39 UGX 5,162

-3.60%

Eggs

$1.85 UGX 6,843

$1.75 UGX 6,505

5.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 UGX 15.6K

$4.41 UGX 16.4K

-4.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 UGX 18.7K

$5.07 UGX 18.8K

-0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.18 UGX 15.5K

$4.15 UGX 15.4K

0.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.81 UGX 10.4K

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 UGX 5,439

$1.54 UGX 5,714

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 UGX 6,170

$1.74 UGX 6,469

-4.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UGX 5,675

$1.55 UGX 5,731

-1.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,108

$1.57 UGX 5,820

5.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 UGX 7,128

$1.87 UGX 6,922

2.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,946

$1.03 UGX 3,815

2.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,976

$0.58 UGX 2,137

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 UGX 10.7K

$2.94 UGX 10.9K

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 UGX 35.3K

$9.62 UGX 35.7K

-1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,423

$1.20 UGX 4,446

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 UGX 7,695

$2.12 UGX 7,873

-1.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 UGX 3,026

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.93 UGX 151.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 1,986

$0.55 UGX 2,023

-1.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,045

$0.28 UGX 1,040

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.18 UGX 15.5K

$4.08 UGX 15.1K

2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,531

$1.51 UGX 5,606

-1.32%

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

$8,992 UGX 33.3M

$9,008 UGX 33.4M

-0.18%

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

$8,867 UGX 32.9M

$8,897 UGX 33.0M

-0.34%

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

$42.71 UGX 158.4K

$42.65 UGX 158.1K

0.14%

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

$14.33 UGX 53.1K

$14.12 UGX 52.3K

1.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.31 UGX 164.3K

$43.11 UGX 159.8K

2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.66 UGX 180.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 UGX 27.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 UGX 22.7K

$6.34 UGX 23.5K

-3.31%

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

$163 UGX 606.1K

$158 UGX 586.3K

3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,253 UGX 15.8M

$4,304 UGX 16.0M

-1.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.04 UGX 63.2K

$16.72 UGX 62.0K

1.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.52 UGX 53.8K

$14.35 UGX 53.2K

1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.71 UGX 143.5K

$38.74 UGX 143.7K

-0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.00 UGX 174.3K

$47.14 UGX 174.8K

-0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 UGX 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 UGX 820.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 UGX 3.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 UGX 1.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,241 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 UGX 737.3K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lira: April 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 $169 vs $170 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,140 in Kampala and $643 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 $163 in Kampala versus $158 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 77% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.