Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Mbarara Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Mbarara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $839 per month in Da Nang vs $539 in Mbarara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Da Nang vs $867 in Mbarara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,885 per month in Da Nang vs $1,194 in Mbarara, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 56% more than Mbarara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Mbarara are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 39% lower, Mbarara 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 ₫59.3K
$2.64 UGX 9,821
-14.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.50 ₫508.9K
$26.62 UGX 98.9K
-26.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 ₫123.5K
$7.76 UGX 28.8K
-39.05%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₫44.0K
$2.56 UGX 9,504
-33.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₫17.8K
$0.41 UGX 1,511
65.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₫9,491
$0.30 UGX 1,128
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ₫35.4K
$1.31 UGX 4,869
3.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 ₫58.1K
$1.96 UGX 7,285
13.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 ₫37.0K
$0.52 UGX 1,914
173.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₫33.2K
$0.98 UGX 3,631
29.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 ₫27.1K
$1.33 UGX 4,932
-21.80%
Eggs
$1.53 ₫39.9K
$1.56 UGX 5,804
-1.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 ₫337.9K
$4.89 UGX 18.2K
164.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 ₫106.4K
$4.90 UGX 18.2K
-16.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ₫237.8K
$3.78 UGX 14.0K
141.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ₫67.1K
$2.42 UGX 8,991
6.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ₫27.8K
$1.33 UGX 4,939
-19.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 ₫34.6K
$1.38 UGX 5,123
-4.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₫37.6K
$1.34 UGX 4,967
7.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 ₫29.3K
$1.34 UGX 4,997
-16.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ₫33.1K
$1.45 UGX 5,383
-12.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 ₫27.3K
$0.85 UGX 3,173
23.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$0.53 UGX 1,978
-11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55 ₫40.6K
$2.72 UGX 10.1K
-43.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 ₫204.9K
$8.16 UGX 30.3K
-3.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₫23.5K
$1.13 UGX 4,183
-20.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₫54.1K
$2.05 UGX 7,635
0.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 ₫8,623
$0.83 UGX 3,066
-60.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.86 ₫100.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₫27.0K
$0.52 UGX 1,932
98.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₫15.9K
$0.36 UGX 1,326
69.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.18 ₫500.7K
$3.26 UGX 12.1K
488.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₫23.4K
$1.43 UGX 5,316
-37.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₫803.3M
$8,086 UGX 30.1M
280.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ₫732.4M
$7,980 UGX 29.7M
251.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.5 ₫2.3M
$76.3 UGX 283.5K
15.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.27 ₫163.6K
$15.38 UGX 57.1K
-59.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99 ₫208.4K
$38.90 UGX 144.6K
-79.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.06 ₫575.8K
$20.01 UGX 74.4K
10.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.26 ₫137.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.10 ₫81.0K
$7.45 UGX 27.7K
-58.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 ₫4.2M
$255 UGX 946.2K
-36.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ₫385.7M
$8,414 UGX 31.3M
75.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.47 ₫1.2M
$15.05 UGX 55.9K
195.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.74 ₫724.1K
$13.81 UGX 51.3K
100.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 ₫2.6M
$34.46 UGX 128.1K
187.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.1 ₫2.1M
$46.86 UGX 174.2K
75.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 ₫13.7M
$93.2 UGX 346.2K
464.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$338 ₫8.8M
$81.9 UGX 304.3K
312.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 ₫25.3M
$252 UGX 935.2K
284.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$744 ₫19.4M
$192 UGX 711.8K
288.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,857 ₫100.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,278 ₫33.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Mbarara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$359 ₫9.4M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
20.75
-48.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Da Nang: August 18, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Da Nang versus $93.2 in Mbarara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Da Nang versus $27.00 in Mbarara. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Da Nang vs $152 in Mbarara – so Mbarara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Da Nang vs Mbarara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Mbarara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $839 in Da Nang, $539 in Mbarara – roughly 56% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Mbarara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,258 per month in Da Nang and $809 in Mbarara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and Mbarara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbarara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or Mbarara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $839 in Da Nang and $539 in Mbarara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and Mbarara?
Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Da Nang and $255 in Mbarara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Da Nang compared to Mbarara?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $839 in Da Nang and $539 in Mbarara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Mbarara?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $539 in Mbarara to $839 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Mbarara safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Da Nang and Mbarara?
If budget matters most, go with Mbarara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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