Mid-Range Travel Guide: Kampala

Accommodation

$35-80 per night

Private rooms in mid-range hotels, boutique guesthouses, B&Bs with ensuite bathrooms

Food & Dining

$15-35 per day

Mix of local restaurants, hotel dining, tourist-oriented eateries, occasional street food

Transportation

$8-25 per day

Combination of public transport, app-based taxis, occasional private hire

Activities

$20-60 per day

Paid attractions, guided tours, cultural experiences, museum entries

Eat at local markets and roadside stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use public matatus instead of taxis for city transport (usually 70-85% savings)

Stay in neighborhoods like Ntinda or Najera instead of central Kampala (generally 30-50% lower accommodation costs)

Buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets rather than tourist shops (typically 40-60% cheaper)

Negotiate prices at local markets and for boda-boda rides (usually 20-40% savings possible)

Book accommodation directly with properties rather than through booking sites (often 10-25% lower rates)

Travel during rainy seasons for significantly lower accommodation rates (typically 25-45% discounts)

Only eating in hotel restaurants and tourist areas instead of exploring local food options (usually 100-200% markup)

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the matatu system (typically 3-5x more expensive)

Booking accommodation in central business district without comparing suburban options (often 40-70% price difference)

Not negotiating prices at markets and for services where haggling is expected (missing 20-50% potential savings)

Exchanging money at airports instead of forex bureaus in the city (typically 5-15% worse rates)