Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Yiwu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Yiwu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Kampala versus $718 in Yiwu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Kampala versus $1,344 in Yiwu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,508 in Kampala versus $1,969 in Yiwu.

Living in Kampala is roughly 4% more expensive than Yiwu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 44% lower, Yiwu 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

$2.72 ¥18.37

3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.26 UGX 98.7K

$36.17 ¥245

-27.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 UGX 31.5K

$5.48 ¥37.03

53.10%

Cappuccino

$2.87 UGX 10.8K

$3.55 ¥24.04

-19.15%

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

$0.51 UGX 1,914

$0.55 ¥3.70

-7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,178

$0.30 ¥2.00

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 UGX 5,142

$1.42 ¥9.57

-3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

$2.74 ¥18.49

-0.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 UGX 2,797

$1.78 ¥12.02

-58.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,690

$1.79 ¥12.13

-30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,045

$0.85 ¥5.72

57.65%

Eggs

$1.82 UGX 6,849

$1.60 ¥10.84

13.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

$15.31 ¥104

-71.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 UGX 18.5K

$3.12 ¥21.13

57.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 UGX 15.6K

$10.57 ¥71.5

-60.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

$1.70 ¥11.53

60.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 UGX 5,496

$1.43 ¥9.67

2.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,219

$1.41 ¥9.51

17.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UGX 5,746

$1.13 ¥7.66

35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 UGX 6,121

$0.51 ¥3.44

219.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 UGX 7,172

$0.82 ¥5.54

132.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,841

$0.15 ¥1.04

580.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 UGX 2,013

$0.60 ¥4.02

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 UGX 10.9K

$2.77 ¥18.74

4.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 UGX 32.9K

$11.98 ¥81.0

-26.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 UGX 4,665

$0.40 ¥2.74

210.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 UGX 8,053

$1.07 ¥7.22

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 UGX 3,248

$0.40 ¥2.72

115.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.33 UGX 155.4K

$16.96 ¥115

143.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,162

$1.13 ¥7.64

-48.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 972

$0.23 ¥1.56

13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

$8.30 ¥56.2

-50.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,478

$1.15 ¥7.74

26.96%

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

$8,985 UGX 33.8M

$19.6K ¥132.6K

-54.17%

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

$8,649 UGX 32.5M

$17.7K ¥119.9K

-51.24%

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

$41.73 UGX 156.9K

$51.7 ¥350

-19.33%

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

$14.10 UGX 53.0K

$8.78 ¥59.4

60.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.81 UGX 164.8K

$13.47 ¥91.1

225.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.49 UGX 182.4K

$14.17 ¥95.8

242.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.56 UGX 28.4K

$10.60 ¥71.7

-28.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 UGX 23.5K

$6.49 ¥43.87

-3.70%

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

$161 UGX 603.6K

$339 ¥2,290

-52.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,373 UGX 16.4M

$31.7K ¥214.5K

-86.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.20 UGX 64.7K

$55.0 ¥372

-68.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.21 UGX 53.4K

$34.40 ¥233

-58.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.06 UGX 146.9K

$76.3 ¥516

-48.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.64 UGX 179.1K

$70.4 ¥476

-32.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 UGX 1.5M

$424 ¥2,865

-6.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 UGX 822.4K

$185 ¥1,251

18.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 UGX 3.7M

$990 ¥6,691

-0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 UGX 1.3M

$688 ¥4,651

-49.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 UGX 4.6M

$3,197 ¥21.6K

-61.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$980 UGX 3.7M

$2,894 ¥19.6K

-66.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 UGX 717.4K

$591 ¥3,997

-67.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

3.58

481.01%

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

Last update for Kampala: June 2, 2026

Last update for Yiwu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Kampala and $424 in Yiwu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yiwu pays 210% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Kampala vs $36.00 in Yiwu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $206 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 Yiwu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yiwu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Yiwu earns 210% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Kampala versus $424 in Yiwu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kampala pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Yiwu – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $26.00 in Kampala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Yiwu 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 Yiwu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.