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: $753 in Kampala versus $725 in Yiwu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Kampala versus $1,351 in Yiwu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Kampala versus $1,978 in Yiwu.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

$2.72 ¥18.40

0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.91 UGX 99.5K

$36.48 ¥246

-26.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 UGX 32.4K

$5.63 ¥38.06

55.77%

Cappuccino

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

$3.56 ¥24.03

-23.03%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,742

$0.53 ¥3.61

-11.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,153

$0.32 ¥2.18

-3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 UGX 5,041

$1.42 ¥9.61

-4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

$2.82 ¥19.06

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 UGX 2,617

$1.86 ¥12.56

-61.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,629

$1.79 ¥12.06

-30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 4,944

$0.84 ¥5.71

59.52%

Eggs

$1.76 UGX 6,501

$1.68 ¥11.35

4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 UGX 16.0K

$15.70 ¥106

-72.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 UGX 18.0K

$3.19 ¥21.53

52.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 UGX 15.6K

$10.52 ¥71.1

-59.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.1K

$1.63 ¥10.99

67.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 UGX 5,598

$1.40 ¥9.48

7.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 UGX 6,126

$1.37 ¥9.27

21.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 UGX 5,827

$1.09 ¥7.34

44.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 UGX 6,073

$0.54 ¥3.64

203.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UGX 7,194

$0.80 ¥5.41

142.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 UGX 3,955

$0.17 ¥1.12

529.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,973

$0.61 ¥4.11

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 UGX 10.9K

$2.82 ¥19.07

4.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 UGX 31.9K

$11.99 ¥81.0

-28.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,351

$0.40 ¥2.70

195.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 UGX 7,816

$1.07 ¥7.23

97.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 UGX 2,937

$0.44 ¥2.96

79.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.36 UGX 153.0K

$16.76 ¥113

146.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 UGX 2,029

$1.08 ¥7.32

-49.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,037

$0.23 ¥1.56

21.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.24 UGX 15.7K

$8.16 ¥55.2

-48.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 UGX 5,285

$1.09 ¥7.38

31.19%

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

$8,909 UGX 33.0M

$19.4K ¥131.0K

-54.06%

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

$8,617 UGX 31.9M

$18.0K ¥121.8K

-52.20%

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

$42.44 UGX 157.0K

$51.5 ¥348

-17.58%

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

$14.53 UGX 53.7K

$8.53 ¥57.6

70.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.09 UGX 159.4K

$13.73 ¥92.8

213.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.76 UGX 180.4K

$14.15 ¥95.6

244.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 UGX 27.5K

$10.38 ¥70.2

-28.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 UGX 22.8K

$6.73 ¥45.49

-8.62%

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

$164 UGX 605.5K

$337 ¥2,277

-51.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,247 UGX 15.7M

$32.0K ¥216.3K

-86.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 UGX 64.0K

$55.3 ¥374

-68.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.47 UGX 53.5K

$34.48 ¥233

-58.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.03 UGX 140.7K

$77.7 ¥525

-51.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.10 UGX 170.5K

$70.6 ¥477

-34.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 UGX 1.5M

$410 ¥2,771

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 UGX 831.5K

$185 ¥1,251

21.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$987 UGX 3.6M

$988 ¥6,675

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 UGX 1.2M

$685 ¥4,631

-50.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,253 UGX 4.6M

$11.6K ¥78.2K

-89.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,001 UGX 3.7M

$2,900 ¥19.6K

-65.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 UGX 710.4K

$578 ¥3,908

-66.78%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Yiwu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Kampala and $410 in Yiwu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yiwu pays 201% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Kampala vs $36.00 in Yiwu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $208 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 Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 201% lower in Yiwu. 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: $402 in Kampala versus $410 in Yiwu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kampala pay roughly 25% 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 $27.00 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.