Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulu and Mbarara Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulu and Mbarara

🙂 Solo nomad: Gulu is 70.7% cheaper than Mbarara without rent, and 75.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Gulu is 71.5% cheaper than Mbarara without rent, and 79.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.42 UGX 5,082
$2.75 UGX 9,846
-48.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$26.46 UGX 94.8K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.51 UGX 44.8K
$8.65 UGX 31K
44.62%
Cappuccino
$2.73 UGX 9,775
$2.73 UGX 9,770
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 UGX 967
$0.51 UGX 1,833
-47.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 UGX 527
$0.29 UGX 1,032
-48.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.79 UGX 2,842
$1.35 UGX 4,846
-41.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 UGX 9,712
$2.81 UGX 10.1K
-3.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$0.55 UGX 1,955
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.22 UGX 4,364
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.38 UGX 4,960
-
Eggs
-
$1.85 UGX 6,645
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$4.35 UGX 15.6K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.12 UGX 18.4K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$3.97 UGX 14.2K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.67 UGX 9,572
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.48 UGX 5,298
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.68 UGX 6,011
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.54 UGX 5,517
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.62 UGX 5,814
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.85 UGX 6,631
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.03 UGX 3,684
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 UGX 1,958
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.96 UGX 10.6K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.63 UGX 41.7K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 UGX 4,262
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 UGX 7,670
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 UGX 3,879
$0.86 UGX 3,083
25.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.46 UGX 119.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.59 UGX 2,103
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.26 UGX 931
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.28 UGX 15.3K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 UGX 5,102
$1.49 UGX 5,338
-4.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$8,977 UGX 32.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$8,705 UGX 31.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$42.27 UGX 151.5K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.21 UGX 50.9K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$43.42 UGX 155.6K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$20.85 UGX 74.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.38 UGX 22.9K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$160 UGX 573.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,267 UGX 15.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$16.86 UGX 60.4K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$14.02 UGX 50.3K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$38.74 UGX 138.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$46.72 UGX 167.5K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$98.7 UGX 353.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$82.7 UGX 296.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$260 UGX 932.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$197 UGX 705.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gulu
Mbarara
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
20.8
-

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

Last update for Gulu: October 26, 2025

Last update for Mbarara: October 26, 2025

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