Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kampala Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kampala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $694 in Kampala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,069 in Kampala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,445 in Kampala.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 80% more expensive than in Kampala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Kampala 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.45

$2.60 UGX 10.2K

335.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$26.01 UGX 101.7K

48.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.73

$7.53 UGX 29.4K

26.43%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.61 UGX 10.2K

30.65%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.39 UGX 1,524

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.26 UGX 1,009

146.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$1.31 UGX 5,114

99.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$1.96 UGX 7,668

65.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$0.84 UGX 3,297

158.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$0.89 UGX 3,496

-16.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.41 UGX 5,521

21.28%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$1.62 UGX 6,329

74.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$4.55 UGX 17.8K

102.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.69 UGX 18.3K

44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$5.00 UGX 19.5K

155.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$2.21 UGX 8,623

-25.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.31 UGX 5,131

35.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$1.32 UGX 5,176

41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.25 UGX 4,873

95.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.19 UGX 4,633

-26.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.37 UGX 5,352

-52.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.75 UGX 2,951

86.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.55 UGX 2,132

34.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$2.62 UGX 10.2K

30.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$7.78 UGX 30.4K

-2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$1.07 UGX 4,191

58.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$1.95 UGX 7,611

22.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.79 UGX 3,099

-54.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$43.75 UGX 171.0K

-65.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.52 UGX 2,049

126.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.31 UGX 1,198

145.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.47

$3.21 UGX 12.5K

253.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$1.37 UGX 5,363

-2.92%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$7,649 UGX 29.9M

223.24%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$7,693 UGX 30.1M

186.32%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$72.5 UGX 283.3K

22.62%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$11.82 UGX 46.2K

12.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$36.46 UGX 142.5K

-44.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$57.2 UGX 223.7K

20.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.01

$5.99 UGX 23.4K

202.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.46

$7.65 UGX 29.9K

-12.16%

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

$374 ₾971

$259 UGX 1.0M

44.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$8,404 UGX 32.9M

27.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$14.19 UGX 55.5K

613.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$13.67 UGX 53.4K

187.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$33.15 UGX 129.6K

254.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$45.85 UGX 179.3K

166.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$499 UGX 1.9M

36.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$174 UGX 679.6K

162.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,385

$1,087 UGX 4.2M

19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$318 UGX 1.2M

182.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,365

$1,239 UGX 4.8M

97.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,774

$988 UGX 3.9M

47.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$183 UGX 715.7K

256.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

20.75

-39.18%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kampala: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $499 in Kampala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 256% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $26.00 in Kampala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $153 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

Tbilisi vs Kampala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kampala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 256% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $499 in Kampala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Tbilisi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kampala – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $39.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $694 in Kampala versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kampala but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kampala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kampala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kampala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kampala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.