Uganda Travel Budget - Visit Uganda on a Budget or Travel in Style


How much does it cost to travel to Uganda?

You should plan to spend around $42 (USh164,025) per day on your vacation in Uganda. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $11 (USh41,533) on meals
  • $8.48 (USh33,002) on local transportation
  • $38 (USh147,447) on hotels

A one week trip to Uganda for two people costs, on average, $590 (USh2,296,350). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $42
    USh164,025
  • One Week Per person
    $295
    USh1,148,175
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $590
    USh2,296,350
  • One Month Per person
    $1,265
    USh4,920,749
  • One Week For a couple
    $590
    USh2,296,350
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $1,180
    USh4,592,699
  • One Month For a couple
    $2,529
    USh9,841,498
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Uganda cost?

A one week trip to Uganda usually costs around $295 (USh1,148,175) for one person and $590 (USh2,296,350) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Uganda on average costs around $590 (USh2,296,350) for one person and $1,180 (USh4,592,699) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Uganda will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Uganda on average costs around $1,265 (USh4,920,749) for one person and $2,529 (USh9,841,498) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




How much do package tours cost in Uganda?

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Uganda is $476 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.



Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Uganda expensive to visit?

Uganda is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.

Within Africa, Uganda is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to Tanzania or Kenya.

For more details, see Is Uganda Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Uganda?

The average Uganda trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Uganda travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) USh147,447 ($38)
Local Transportation 1 USh33,002 ($8.48)
Food 2 USh41,533 ($11)
Entertainment 1 USh50,131 ($13)
Tips and Handouts 1 USh8,203 - 24,609 ($2 - 6)
Alcohol 2 USh11,220 - 33,660 ($3 - 9)
Accommodation Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Uganda is $19 (USh73,724). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Uganda is $38 (USh147,447). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $19
    USh73,724
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $38
    USh147,447

Hotel Prices in Uganda

Looking for a hotel in Uganda? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Uganda based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $66. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Local Transportation Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Uganda is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $8.48 (USh33,002) per person, per day, on local transportation in Uganda.


  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $8.48
    USh33,002

Recommended Services

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in Uganda are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in Uganda, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Taxi around town
    USh15,000


Food Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Uganda can vary, the average cost of food in Uganda is $11 (USh41,533) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Uganda should cost around $4.27 (USh16,613) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Uganda is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $11
    USh41,533

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Uganda are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Uganda, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Lunch for 2
    USh6,000


Entertainment Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Uganda typically cost an average of $13 (USh50,131) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $13
    USh50,131

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Uganda is $4.22 (USh16,406) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Uganda is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $4.22
    USh16,406



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Alcohol Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $5.77 (USh22,440) on alcoholic beverages in Uganda per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $5.77
    USh22,440

Recommended


Water Budget in Uganda
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.47 (USh1,844) on bottled water in Uganda per day. The public water in Uganda is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.47
    USh1,844


Related Articles
Uganda On a Budget
Uganda Uganda
Located in East Africa, Uganda is bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The country is known for its very diverse plant and animal life and is most famous as home to the endangered mountain gorilla as well as the endangered common chimpanzee.

Foreigners, specifically caucasians, are referred to as muzunga or wazungu in the plural form. This term is commonly called out by children when they see visitors. It is not an insult and a proper response is either to ignore it or respond with a friendly wave.

Uganda is not an expensive country to visit, but the facilities are not what you might expect in neighboring Kenya or Tanzania, as tourism is not as common. Your best approach is to relax and go with the flow. Understand that schedules mean little, roads are in poor condition, and part of the experience is to learn to let things go and stay flexible.

While most visitors come to the country specifically for a gorilla safari, there are many other things to see in Uganda, so don't limit yourself. Other highlights include wildlife such as the chimpanzees, hiking the Rwenzoris and visiting the source of the Nile River.

Uganda's climate is affected by altitude, although the country is equatorial. In general, southern Uganda is wetter throughout the year. On the northern shore of Lake Victoria, most of the rain comes between March and June and November and December. Near the South Sudanese border there is a dry period between November and February. Droughts are not uncommon in the northeastern part of the country and Rwenzori in the southwest is prone to rain year around.
At A Glance
  • Most visitors to Uganda book a car through a tour company. These companies provide a guide and a car, bus or truck. The benefit of having a guide is that they know where to take you and how to get around. This is probably your best option if you want to see a lot in just a couple of weeks. Otherwise you'll spend a lot of time waiting for rides and searching for accommodation. Going it alone allows you to experience a different side of Uganda. You'll get to know the public transportation and see a more local, and arguably more authentic side of the country. In general, if you go it alone, you will travel by a combination of boda-boda, local taxi, bus, and private car within the national parks.

  • Many people in Uganda speak English, although they may not all be fluent. British English is taught in the schools, but Ugandan English is very common. Many people speak with a thick accent that may take you some time to adjust to. There are also many different regional languages spoken in Uganda. Some of the more common include Luganda, which is common in Kampala and Swahili which is spoken in the north and the east.

  • Uganda's national currency is the Ugandan shilling. At bigger hotels and restaurant you may be able to pay in US dollars. It's also possible to pay for bigger activities such as safaris and rafting with US dollars. In fact, most companies require it. Cash is preferred and a 4% fee may be charged if you try to pay with credit card. Also make sure you have enough cash on you, as it is not uncommon for ATMs to close do to a shortage of cash. Plan ahead and assess the situation for each city and town you visit.

  • Accommodation provided by UWA in national parks is generally a good option as the standard is high and the facilities are less expensive. Throughout Uganda you may struggle to find moderately priced hotels. Expensive hotels are of a lower quality than those found in Kenya or Tanzania so you may prefer to stay at a budget hotel and spend your money in other ways.

  • Internet cafes are common in Kampala and Jinja. In the larger towns it's possible to find at least one internet cafe but the connection is usually frustratingly slow and unreliable. It is best to take advantage of the facilities in the largest cities, and then disconnect for the rest of your trip.



Related:

Looking for a hostel in Marrakesh, Cape Town, Nairobi, or Zanzibar?
Top Tourist Attractions
Gorilla Trekking: To go Gorilla Trekking you'll need to buy a permit well in advance. There is limited availability and only a few tourists are taken to the gorillas each day. This is done in an effort to limit the stress put on the animals. If you have a permit, you will have one hour to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Permits can be purchased through the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Prices continue to rise so you should contact the UWA for the most recent price.

Whitewater Rafting on the Nile: Uganda offers adventure travelers world class whitewater rafting on the Nile. You can choose between anything from a half day to 2 day trips. You can also choose your intensity level, from peaceful family trips to grade 5 rapids.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: This is Uganda's most visited national park. It is located in western Uganda and covers almost 2,000 square kilometers. It is famous for its wildlife, which was greatly effected by the Uganda-Tanzania War. Many species have now recovered including the hippopotami, elephants, leopards, lions and chimpanzees.

Popular Foods
Ugandan cuisine has been influenced by English, Arab and Indian cooking. There are regional specialties and many tribes have their own unique dish. In general, dishes include some type of vegetable, potatoes, yams, bananas or another tropical fruit. Common meats are chicken, fish, beef, goat, and mutton, although in rural areas meat is less common.

Luwombo: This staple in Uganda is a meat or groundnut sauce that is steamed in banana leaves. It has a strong aroma and is usually served with some form of a carbohydrate.

Posho: This is usually made with maize but may be found with other starches. It is cooked with water until it makes a porridge or dough. It is often served with some sort of meat or sauce and is a staple in the country.

Whole Fried Fish : This is a delicious meal option that is usually available near the beach. It is typically served with some form of french fries (chips).

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.