Is Kampala expensive to visit?
Kampala is a fairly affordable travel destination with an average daily cost of $78. Compared to the rest of Africa, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in Africa for its travel costs, comparable to places like Dakar and Tangier.
Kampala, Uganda
How expensive is Kampala?
The average cost of traveling to Kampala can vary widely based on many factors, but our calculations based on previous travlers show that the average daily cost is $78 (U.S. Dollars). Your travel style, accommodation preferences, dining choices, and trip duration can alter your individual budget, as you can find a wide array of accommodation, food, and entertainment options available for your visit. Sticking to mid-range hotels, affordable restaurants, and public transit when available can keep your costs close to this calculated average. See more travel costs for Kampala here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Kampala?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a weekend trip to Kampala will cost around $233 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a weekend trip would cost $466.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Kampala?
On average, a one week trip to Kampala costs about $543 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,087.
Is it expensive to backpack in Kampala?
Kampala is a fairly common backpacker destination with more than 5 hostels in the area. Dorm beds in hostels average about $18 per night. (See hostel prices in Kampala here.) Keep in mind that you'll find a wide range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $25 and the cheapest around $10 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Kampala.
- $21 for a dorm bed at Bushpig Backpackers Ltd
- $10 for a dorm bed at Acacia Villa
Are hotels expensive in Kampala?
Hotel prices in Kampala are very affordable compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $64 per night for a room on average. There are around 3 five star hotels in the city and they average $237 per night. Three star hotels average $62 a night and two star hotels average $43 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Kampala
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 3 | $237 |
| 4 stars | 17 | $133 |
| 3 stars | 106 | $62 |
| 2 stars | 33 | $43 |
| 1 star | 4 | $29 |
| No rating | 3 | $36 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Kampala?
Activities and things to do in Kampala can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $0 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $32.
- Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $26
- Best Jinja source of the River Nile day experience: $170
- Half day Kampala City Motor Bike Tours : $35
- Kampala's walking city Tour Experience : $18
- Best Kampala group Walking Tour.: $25
- Safe Motorbike Tour in Kampala (Boda Boda Tour): $30
- Kampala City Tour - Half Day : $215
- Tombs, King’s palace & Gaddafi mosque walk (Airpals Safaris tour): $26
Is food expensive in Kampala?
Food in Kampala can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $15 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $46. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
- Cooking Class With a Local (Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe - 4 Hours): $56
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
Is transportation expensive in Kampala?
Local transportation in Kampala can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $3 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $21. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Kampala
If you're planning a trip to Kampala, Uganda, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.