Cost of Living

Kampala, Uganda

Live cost-of-living data for Kampala — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
+4% rent since Jul 2026
$550/mo
Median Income
44/100
Safety
16%
Income Tax
tropical rainforest
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
30/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$380/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$230/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$810/month
Food & Groceries
20/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.78/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
25/100
Monthly Transit Pass$25/month
One-Way Ticket$0.8/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.4/km
Utilities
28/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$40/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$20/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$12/month
Healthcare
35/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$25/visit
Dentist Visit$35/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$5/course
Education
30/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$5,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$180/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$5/ticket
Theater Ticket$15/ticket
Museum Entry$5/ticket
Clothing
25/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$35/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$20/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$50/pair
Personal Care
25/100
Haircut (Men)$5/cut
Haircut (Women)$12/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2/bottle
Dining Out
22/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$5/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$20/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
28/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$250/month
Babysitter (per hour)$3/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$8/pack
Fitness & Sports
25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$20/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$8/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$3/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

18 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
55/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Kololo, Kampala Central, Makindye

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kampala cheap to live in?

Kampala has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kampala?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kampala costs approximately $380/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $230/month.

Is Kampala good for digital nomads?

Kampala has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 18 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Kampala?

The median net monthly salary in Kampala is approximately $550 USD. The income tax rate is around 16%.

How does Kampala compare to New York for cost of living?

Kampala (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Kampala.

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