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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Soroti versus $694 in Kampala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $667 in Soroti versus $1,069 in Kampala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $904 in Soroti versus $1,445 in Kampala.

Living in Soroti costs roughly 38% less than in Kampala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Soroti 69% lower, Kampala 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68 UGX 10.5K
$2.60 UGX 10.2K
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.93 UGX 106.1K
$26.01 UGX 102.4K
3.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 UGX 29.9K
$7.53 UGX 29.6K
0.80%
Cappuccino
$2.64 UGX 10.4K
$2.61 UGX 10.3K
1.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 UGX 1,551
$0.39 UGX 1,535
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 UGX 1,196
$0.26 UGX 1,016
15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 UGX 5,335
$1.31 UGX 5,152
3.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 UGX 7,402
$1.96 UGX 7,725
-4.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 UGX 3,096
$0.84 UGX 3,321
-5.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 UGX 3,765
$0.89 UGX 3,522
7.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 UGX 4,119
$1.41 UGX 5,562
-25.53%
Eggs
$1.51 UGX 5,945
$1.62 UGX 6,375
-6.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.64 UGX 18.3K
$4.55 UGX 17.9K
1.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.89 UGX 19.2K
$4.69 UGX 18.5K
4.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.09 UGX 12.2K
$5.00 UGX 19.7K
-38.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 UGX 8,241
$2.21 UGX 8,687
-5.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 UGX 4,747
$1.31 UGX 5,169
-7.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 UGX 5,274
$1.32 UGX 5,214
1.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 UGX 3,053
$1.25 UGX 4,909
-37.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 UGX 2,039
$1.19 UGX 4,667
-56.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 UGX 5,519
$1.37 UGX 5,392
2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 UGX 3,123
$0.75 UGX 2,973
5.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 UGX 2,196
$0.55 UGX 2,148
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68 UGX 10.6K
$2.62 UGX 10.3K
2.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 UGX 30.9K
$7.78 UGX 30.6K
0.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 UGX 4,106
$1.07 UGX 4,222
-2.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 UGX 8,126
$1.95 UGX 7,667
5.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 UGX 3,122
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$43.75 UGX 172.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 UGX 2,010
$0.52 UGX 2,064
-1.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 UGX 1,241
$0.31 UGX 1,207
3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 UGX 13.0K
$3.21 UGX 12.6K
2.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 UGX 5,757
$1.37 UGX 5,403
6.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,889 UGX 31.1M
$7,649 UGX 30.1M
3.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,996 UGX 31.5M
$7,693 UGX 30.3M
3.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.9 UGX 295.0K
$72.5 UGX 285.4K
3.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.35 UGX 48.7K
$11.82 UGX 46.6K
4.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.08 UGX 146.0K
$36.46 UGX 143.6K
1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$57.2 UGX 225.4K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.99 UGX 23.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.76 UGX 30.6K
$7.65 UGX 30.1K
1.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 UGX 1.0M
$259 UGX 1.0M
0.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,470 UGX 33.4M
$8,404 UGX 33.1M
0.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.61 UGX 57.5K
$14.19 UGX 55.9K
2.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.65 UGX 53.8K
$13.67 UGX 53.8K
-0.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.92 UGX 137.5K
$33.15 UGX 130.6K
5.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.10 UGX 185.5K
$45.85 UGX 180.6K
2.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$499 UGX 2.0M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$174 UGX 684.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,087 UGX 4.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$318 UGX 1.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,239 UGX 4.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$988 UGX 3.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroti
Kampala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$183 UGX 720.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.75
20.75
-

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

Last update for Soroti: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kampala: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Soroti vs $26.00 in Kampala. Groceries flip the comparison at $141 vs $153, 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
Soroti vs Kampala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kampala cheaper than Soroti?
Soroti is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $645 in Soroti and $1,041 in Kampala 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 $261 in Soroti versus $259 in Kampala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Soroti or in Kampala?
Dining out is cheaper in Soroti – 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.
Is $1,000 enough for either Soroti or Kampala?
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 Soroti or in Kampala?
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 61% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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