Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Soroti Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Soroti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $760 in Kampala versus $417 in Soroti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Kampala versus $679 in Soroti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,503 in Kampala versus $941 in Soroti.

Living in Kampala is roughly 82% more expensive than Soroti, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 43% lower, Soroti 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 UGX 10.0K
$2.83 UGX 10.5K
-4.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.90 UGX 96.0K
$26.33 UGX 97.6K
-1.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.44 UGX 31.3K
$8.47 UGX 31.4K
-0.35%
Cappuccino
$2.85 UGX 10.6K
$2.77 UGX 10.3K
2.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 UGX 1,854
$0.47 UGX 1,746
6.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 UGX 1,059
$0.29 UGX 1,068
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 UGX 5,019
$1.38 UGX 5,114
-2.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 UGX 10.2K
$2.83 UGX 10.5K
-2.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 UGX 2,790
$0.71 UGX 2,645
5.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 UGX 4,688
$1.19 UGX 4,428
5.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 UGX 4,975
$1.10 UGX 4,075
21.82%
Eggs
$1.85 UGX 6,843
$1.78 UGX 6,609
3.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.19 UGX 15.6K
$4.20 UGX 15.6K
-0.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 UGX 18.7K
$5.03 UGX 18.7K
0.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.18 UGX 15.5K
$3.40 UGX 12.6K
22.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 UGX 10.4K
$2.82 UGX 10.5K
-0.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 UGX 5,439
$1.49 UGX 5,519
-1.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 UGX 6,170
$1.73 UGX 6,430
-4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 UGX 5,675
$0.81 UGX 2,991
88.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 UGX 6,108
$0.58 UGX 2,140
184.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 UGX 7,128
$1.66 UGX 6,152
15.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 UGX 3,946
$1.07 UGX 3,969
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 UGX 1,976
$0.58 UGX 2,136
-8.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88 UGX 10.7K
$2.90 UGX 10.7K
-0.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.52 UGX 35.3K
$9.24 UGX 34.3K
3.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 UGX 4,423
$1.20 UGX 4,440
-0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 UGX 7,695
$2.07 UGX 7,662
0.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
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
$0.58 UGX 2,135
-6.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 UGX 1,045
$0.26 UGX 956
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.18 UGX 15.5K
$4.13 UGX 15.3K
1.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 UGX 5,531
$1.50 UGX 5,571
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,992 UGX 33.3M
$8,937 UGX 33.1M
0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,867 UGX 32.9M
$8,607 UGX 31.9M
3.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.71 UGX 158.4K
$42.37 UGX 157.1K
0.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.33 UGX 53.1K
$14.30 UGX 53.0K
0.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.31 UGX 164.3K
$43.98 UGX 163.1K
0.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
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
$6.12 UGX 22.7K
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 UGX 606.1K
$160 UGX 593.1K
2.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,253 UGX 15.8M
$4,287 UGX 15.9M
-0.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.04 UGX 63.2K
$16.75 UGX 62.1K
1.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.52 UGX 53.8K
$14.10 UGX 52.3K
2.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.71 UGX 143.5K
$38.58 UGX 143.0K
0.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.00 UGX 174.3K
$46.64 UGX 172.9K
0.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampala
Soroti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$199 UGX 737.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.8
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 Soroti: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Kampala vs $26.00 in Soroti. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $157, with Soroti cheaper for home cooking.

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 Soroti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soroti cheaper than Kampala?
Soroti is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,140 in Kampala and $625 in Soroti 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $163 in Kampala versus $160 in Soroti. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Kampala or Soroti?
Dining out is cheaper in Soroti – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Kampala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Kampala or Soroti?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Soroti gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Kampala or Soroti?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Soroti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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