Kampala vs Gold Coast Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Kampala vs Gold Coast: everyday costs favor Kampala (~116% CPI gap), housing index favors Kampala, wage stretch favors Gold Coast. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Kampala
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Purchasing Power (188% gap, Gold Coast ahead); Transport (100% gap, Gold Coast ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $242 lower in Kampala than in Gold Coast (~48% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $242 (favoring Kampala).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Kampala | CPI 22.7 vs 49 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Kampala | Rent index 13 vs 18.8 (lower is better) |
| Food | Kampala | Groceries index 31.3 vs 54.8 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Gold Coast | One-way ticket 1.67 vs 1502.2 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Gold Coast | Utilities (85m²) 56.78 vs 96200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Gold Coast | Internet 70.4 vs 72779 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Kampala | Restaurant index 22 vs 41.7 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Kampala | Avg net salary 4633880 vs 5439.32 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Gold Coast | PP index 58.1 vs 20.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Purchasing Power: Gold Coast leads with a 188% gap.
PP index 58.1 vs 20.2 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Kampala — Lower housing / rent index (45% gap).
- Families: Kampala — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Kampala; purchasing power favors Gold Coast.
- Remote Workers: Kampala — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Kampala (~116% gap).
- Budget Living: Kampala — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Kampala is the overall cost winner on CPI (~116% lower everyday-cost index than Gold Coast).
- Housing: Kampala leads on rent index (45% gap).
- Food / groceries: Kampala is lower (75% gap).
- Purchasing power: Gold Coast scores higher (188% gap).
- Largest category gap: Purchasing Power (188%), favoring Gold Coast.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$242 cheaper in Kampala.
Analysis
Kampala versus Gold Coast is not a single number. With a 116% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Kampala, while housing follows Kampala's rent index. Purchasing power (20.2 vs 58.1) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.