Uganda · Visit or make it home

Kampala

Kampala is a city in Uganda. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Kampala — Urban Rising, KAMPALA, Uganda

Get to know Kampala

A sense of the place

Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,797,722 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central, Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa, and Rubaga. Kampala's metropolitan area consists of the city proper and the neighboring Wakiso District, Mukono District, Mpigi District, Buikwe District and Luweero District. It has a rapidly growing population that is estimated at 6,709,900 people in 2019, in an area of 8,451.9 km2 . Other estimates put the size of the metropolitan area at around four million people. In 2015, this metropolitan area generated an estimated nominal GDP of $13.8 billion , which was more than half of Uganda's GDP for that year, indicating the importance of Kampala to Uganda's economy. In 2018, Kampala was among the fastest-growing cities in Africa, with an annual population growth rate of 4.03 percent. American consulting firm Mercer has regularly ranked Kampala as East Africa's best city to live in, ahead of Nairobi and Kigali.

Weather through the year

When to visit Kampala

Temperature

February has the warmest monthly average (24.3°C); June is coolest (21.4°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

April averages about 194 mm of rain, compared with 57 mm in July. For an outdoor-focused trip, compare the drier months before choosing dates.

Planning time outdoors

June, July combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C23.524.323.622.321.621.421.522.122.422.122.022.6
Rain, mm6566148194158635788117158166116

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Kampala

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Average rent in Kampala

What is the average rent in Kampala?

A verified average rent for Kampala is not available in the evidence shown here. Do not substitute another city’s price or a national estimate. Compare current properties for the same home size and neighbourhood, then include utilities, deposits and daily transport when building a budget for a visit or move.

Average salary in Kampala

What is the average salary in Kampala?

161 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2021. It describes Uganda, not average salary in Kampala. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2021 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Kampala with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Kampala, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

Compare holiday preferences →

A relocation budget

Use the planner below to compare housing, daily spending and the cost of your move.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Kampala in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Enter a housing amount for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Kampala at a glance

Uganda: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Kampala. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 10 national indicators
What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high); Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre; Annual sunshine hours; Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy); Distance to nearest sea / coastline; Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m). Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Kampala with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

All maintained comparisons →

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