Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Mbarara Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampala and Mbarara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Kampala versus $526 in Mbarara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Kampala versus $859 in Mbarara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,508 in Kampala versus $1,192 in Mbarara.

Living in Kampala is roughly 42% more expensive than Mbarara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 44% lower, Mbarara 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

$2.84 UGX 10.7K

-0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.26 UGX 98.7K

$25.95 UGX 97.6K

1.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 UGX 31.5K

$8.61 UGX 32.4K

-2.56%

Cappuccino

$2.87 UGX 10.8K

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

4.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 UGX 1,914

$0.51 UGX 1,919

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,178

$0.29 UGX 1,085

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 UGX 5,142

$1.43 UGX 5,370

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 UGX 2,797

$0.59 UGX 2,209

25.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,690

$1.24 UGX 4,681

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,045

$1.35 UGX 5,063

-0.74%

Eggs

$1.82 UGX 6,849

$1.76 UGX 6,623

3.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

$4.30 UGX 16.2K

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 UGX 18.5K

$5.05 UGX 19.0K

-2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 UGX 15.6K

$3.84 UGX 14.4K

8.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 UGX 5,496

$1.52 UGX 5,720

-3.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 UGX 6,219

$1.75 UGX 6,576

-5.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 UGX 5,746

$1.52 UGX 5,729

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 UGX 6,121

$1.62 UGX 6,094

0.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 UGX 7,172

$1.86 UGX 7,001

2.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 UGX 3,841

$1.07 UGX 4,006

-4.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 UGX 2,013

$0.54 UGX 2,021

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 UGX 10.9K

$3.00 UGX 11.3K

-3.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 UGX 32.9K

$8.68 UGX 32.6K

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 UGX 4,665

$1.18 UGX 4,427

5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 UGX 8,053

$2.13 UGX 8,026

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 UGX 3,248

$0.80 UGX 3,023

7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.33 UGX 155.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,162

$0.54 UGX 2,019

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 972

$0.26 UGX 970

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

$4.25 UGX 16.0K

-2.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,478

$1.48 UGX 5,566

-1.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,985 UGX 33.8M

$9,126 UGX 34.3M

-1.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$8,649 UGX 32.5M

$8,592 UGX 32.3M

0.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.73 UGX 156.9K

$42.83 UGX 161.1K

-2.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.10 UGX 53.0K

$14.62 UGX 55.0K

-3.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.81 UGX 164.8K

$44.24 UGX 166.4K

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.49 UGX 182.4K

$21.11 UGX 79.4K

129.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.56 UGX 28.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 UGX 23.5K

$6.33 UGX 23.8K

-1.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$161 UGX 603.6K

$163 UGX 613.4K

-1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,373 UGX 16.4M

$4,232 UGX 15.9M

3.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.20 UGX 64.7K

$16.80 UGX 63.2K

2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.21 UGX 53.4K

$14.46 UGX 54.4K

-1.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.06 UGX 146.9K

$39.37 UGX 148.0K

-0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.64 UGX 179.1K

$47.76 UGX 179.6K

-0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 UGX 1.5M

$96.6 UGX 363.2K

309.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 UGX 822.4K

$82.7 UGX 311.1K

164.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 UGX 3.7M

$266 UGX 1.0M

268.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 UGX 1.3M

$198 UGX 743.1K

75.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$980 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 UGX 717.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

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

Last update for Kampala: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Kampala and $96.6 in Mbarara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Kampala vs $26.00 in Mbarara. Groceries flip the comparison at $166 vs $165, with Mbarara cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kampala vs Mbarara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mbarara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,121 in Kampala and $790 in Mbarara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Kampala versus $96.6 in Mbarara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $161 in Kampala versus $163 in Mbarara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mbarara – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Kampala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mbarara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Mbarara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.