Cost of Living Comparison Between Uganda and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Uganda and South Africa

🙂 Solo nomad: Uganda is 19.7% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 34.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Uganda is 22.4% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 36.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72 UGX 9,745
$9.05 R 161
-69.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 UGX 89.2K
$38.84 R 691
-35.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 UGX 31.8K
$4.9 R 87.1
81.02%
Cappuccino
$2.75 UGX 9,857
$1.98 R 35.28
38.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 UGX 1,491
$0.96 R 17.06
-56.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 UGX 1,087
$0.75 R 13.31
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 UGX 4,839
$2.18 R 38.72
-38.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 UGX 10.2K
$2.54 R 45.1
11.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 UGX 2,365
$1.1 R 19.58
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 UGX 4,266
$1.03 R 18.32
15.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.3 UGX 4,662
$1.56 R 27.71
-16.67%
Eggs
$1.86 UGX 6,651
$2.25 R 39.93
-17.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.87 UGX 17.5K
$7.67 R 136
-36.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.11 UGX 18.3K
$4.62 R 82.2
10.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.22 UGX 15.1K
$6.86 R 122
-38.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 UGX 9,835
$1.58 R 28.02
73.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 UGX 5,343
$1.42 R 25.3
4.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 UGX 6,293
$1.44 R 25.58
22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 UGX 5,229
$1.49 R 26.5
-2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 UGX 5,307
$1.25 R 22.16
18.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 UGX 6,124
$1.34 R 23.81
27.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 UGX 3,810
$1.09 R 19.31
-2.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 UGX 2,073
$0.96 R 17.15
-39.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 UGX 10.2K
$2.9 R 51.6
-1.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 UGX 40.2K
$5.07 R 90.3
121.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 UGX 4,139
$1.38 R 24.49
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 UGX 7,051
$1.68 R 29.79
17.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 UGX 3,103
$1.71 R 30.47
-49.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.84 UGX 132K
$45.01 R 801
-18.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 UGX 2,574
$1.1 R 19.61
-34.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 UGX 1,010
$1.09 R 19.41
-74.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 UGX 10.7K
$4.8 R 85.3
-37.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 UGX 5,205
$1.31 R 23.23
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,110 UGX 32.7M
$21K R 374.2K
-56.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,926 UGX 32M
$23.7K R 421.3K
-62.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.49 UGX 145.1K
$113 R 2,009
-64.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.85 UGX 49.6K
$33.11 R 589
-58.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 UGX 196.1K
$41.49 R 738
31.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.73 UGX 142.4K
$31.69 R 564
25.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.51 UGX 23.3K
$9.45 R 168
-31.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 UGX 22.7K
$6.7 R 119
-5.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$135 UGX 484.3K
$186 R 3,303
-27.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,903 UGX 14M
$4,336 R 77.1K
-9.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.23 UGX 58.2K
$48.56 R 864
-66.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.44 UGX 51.8K
$30.74 R 547
-53.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.98 UGX 136.1K
$92 R 1,636
-58.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.24 UGX 165.7K
$79.6 R 1,415
-41.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$340 UGX 1.2M
$442 R 7,860
-23.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 UGX 677.5K
$370 R 6,579
-48.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$940 UGX 3.4M
$880 R 15.7K
6.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 UGX 1.1M
$724 R 12.9K
-58.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$987 UGX 3.5M
$1,021 R 18.2K
-3.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,040 UGX 3.7M
$803 R 14.3K
29.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uganda
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$193 UGX 693K
$1,406 R 25K
-86.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.8
11.55
80.09%

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

Last update for Uganda: October 28, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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