A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampala vs. Lisbon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampala or Lisbon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kampala or Lisbon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Kampala or Lisbon?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Lisbon or Kampala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, while the average daily cost in Lisbon is $140. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kampala and Lisbon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Lisbon $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Lisbon $126
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Lisbon

Looking for a hotel in Kampala or Lisbon? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Kampala


Hotels in Lisbon


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kampala Hotel Prices and Lisbon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Lisbon $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $3.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    $6.96

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Private Transfer to Óbidos | Caldas da Rainha: $56
  • Airport Private Transfer to Costa da Caparica | Almada | Aroeira: $33
  • Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira | Torres Vedras | Campo Real: $55
  • Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $23
  • Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $60
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $66
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $95
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $66
  • Arrábida Snorkeling Adventure with Transfer from Lisbon: $87
  • Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $94
  • Cascais transfer: Private Transfer to/from Cascais or Lisbon: $59
  • Departure Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Lisbon?

Prices for flights to both Lisbon and Kampala change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kampala $8.36
    Lisbon $45
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.

  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
  • Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
  • Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
  • Kampala food tour: $205

Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $2.68

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $38
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
  • Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Lisbon $26

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Equator Tour: $100
  • 1 - One Day Best Of Kampala city Walking Tour: $45
  • 1 Day Jinja source of the River Nile tour: $260
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $150
  • 1 Day Kampala City Tour: $120
  • 1 Day Kampala city tour: $162
  • 1 Day Ngamba Island chimpanzee tour: $270
  • 1 Day Uganda Cultural & Farm Experience: $465
  • 1 day Jinja Day trip and Source of R. Nile tour: $261
  • 1-Day Uganda Rhino Trekking Tour Experience: $239
  • 1-day Kampala city tour Uganda: $171
  • 1Day Jinja Tour & source of the Nile River Experience : $193

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.08
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
  • Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.29
  • Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
  • Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.38
  • Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.38
  • Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Graça Church Entry Ticket with Drink on the Terrace: $5.38
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53
  • Príncipe Real to Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Lisbon $20

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampala and Lisbon, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Kampala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampala is in Africa and Lisbon is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kampala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampala and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Kampala.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Lisbon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Lisbon?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Kampala and Lisbon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.