In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Uganda - any experiences?
Uganda’s cheap until you do tourist stuff. I was doing it super low-cost - hostel beds, market food, boda bodas - and stayed under $30/day in Kampala and Mbale. But the second I added a gorilla trek, boom - $700 gone. If you’re not doing big excursions, it’s super budget-friendly. You can get a meal for $1 and a dorm for $10. But yeah, if you want parks, rafting, or treks, bring a bigger cushion.
I based myself in Kampala for a month working remotely. Rented an apartment for about $400, spent $10-15/day on food and transport. Local boda bodas (motorbike taxis) cost around $1-2 per trip using the SafeBoda app. Western food is expensive, but local meals are under $3. Overall, I averaged $1,200/month, including weekend trips. If you’re wondering how much to budget for a month in Uganda, it really depends on your travel style, but $40-50/day is a good middle ground.
I was in Uganda for three weeks in May, mostly around Fort Portal and Jinja. My daily spend was about $50/day - some days less, some more depending on activities. Local buses and food are super cheap, but anything tourism-related costs extra. Entry to national parks or whitewater rafting in Jinja can push you over $100 removed link I’d say for a mix of adventure and regular travel, budget around $1,400-1,500 for the month, more if you’re doing safaris.
I spent a month in Uganda earlier this year and averaged around $35-40/day. Stayed in budget guesthouses, ate local food like rolex and posho, and used shared matatus for transport. Park entry fees and safari costs can spike your budget fast, so plan extra for those. I did one 2-day trip to Murchison and spent about $180 all-in. If you’re mostly exploring towns and short hikes, $1,200/month covers you comfortably. Kampala is pricier, but still manageable if you avoid expat cafes.