Kampala vs Sanaa Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Sanaa leads on CPI (19.4 vs 22.7, NYC=100), Sanaa leads on rent index, and Kampala leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Sanaa
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (96% gap, Kampala ahead); Transport (95% gap, Sanaa ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $93 lower in Sanaa than in Kampala (~19% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $93 (favoring Sanaa).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Sanaa | CPI 19.4 vs 22.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Sanaa | Rent index 10.6 vs 13 (lower is better) |
| Food | Sanaa | Groceries index 28.1 vs 31.3 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Sanaa | One-way ticket 78.3 vs 1502.2 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Sanaa | Utilities (85m²) 5300 vs 96200 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Sanaa | Internet 3780 vs 72779 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Sanaa | Restaurant index 20 vs 22 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Kampala | Avg net salary 4633880 vs 207700 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Kampala | PP index 20.2 vs 13.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Kampala leads with a 96% gap.
Avg net salary 4633880 vs 207700 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Sanaa — Lower housing / rent index (18% gap).
- Families: Sanaa — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Sanaa; purchasing power favors Kampala.
- Remote Workers: Sanaa — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Sanaa (~15% gap).
- Budget Living: Sanaa — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Sanaa is the overall cost winner on CPI (~15% lower everyday-cost index than Kampala).
- Housing: Sanaa leads on rent index (18% gap).
- Food / groceries: Sanaa is lower (10% gap).
- Purchasing power: Kampala scores higher (34% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (96%), favoring Kampala.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$93 cheaper in Sanaa.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 22.7/19.4, rent 13/10.6, purchasing power 20.2/13.4. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
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.