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
16/ 10084% cheaper than New York
+4% rent since Jul 2026
$425/mo
Median Income
55/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
tropical rainforest
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
35/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$395/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$220/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,100/month
Food & Groceries
18/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.75/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
25/100
Monthly Transit Pass$41/month
One-Way Ticket$0.81/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.4/km
Utilities
30/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$35/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$20/month
Healthcare
40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
35/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$300/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
28/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
30/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$2.6/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$30/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8.5/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$400/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
28/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

28 Mbps
Internet Speed
$160
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
65/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Kololo, Nakasero, Ntinda

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kampala cheap to live in?

Kampala has a cost of living index of 16/100, where New York = 100. It is 84% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $580–$812 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kampala?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kampala costs approximately $395/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $220/month.

Is Kampala good for digital nomads?

Kampala has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 28 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $160/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Kampala?

The median net monthly salary in Kampala is approximately $425 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

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

Kampala (cost index 16) is 84% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,100/month by moving from New York to Kampala.

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