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

😐 Solo nomad: Kampala is 7.5% more expensive than Mbarara without rent, and 40.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kampala is 21.3% more expensive than Mbarara without rent, and 25.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 UGX 9,992
$2.80 UGX 10.3K
-3.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.23 UGX 96.8K
$26.56 UGX 98.0K
-1.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.44 UGX 31.1K
$8.76 UGX 32.3K
-3.65%
Cappuccino
$2.75 UGX 10.1K
$2.75 UGX 10.2K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 UGX 1,737
$0.51 UGX 1,898
-7.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 UGX 1,160
$0.29 UGX 1,068
6.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 UGX 5,004
$1.36 UGX 5,016
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 UGX 10.4K
$2.84 UGX 10.5K
-0.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 UGX 2,783
$0.53 UGX 1,964
41.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 UGX 4,586
$1.25 UGX 4,629
-0.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 UGX 5,164
$1.33 UGX 4,901
5.26%
Eggs
$1.75 UGX 6,449
$1.76 UGX 6,481
-0.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.20 UGX 15.5K
$4.33 UGX 16.0K
-3.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.04 UGX 18.6K
$4.90 UGX 18.1K
2.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.35 UGX 16.1K
$3.99 UGX 14.7K
9.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 UGX 10.4K
$2.82 UGX 10.4K
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 UGX 5,587
$1.46 UGX 5,394
3.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 UGX 6,120
$1.69 UGX 6,220
-1.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 UGX 5,671
$1.57 UGX 5,804
-1.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 UGX 5,894
$1.65 UGX 6,081
-3.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 UGX 6,866
$1.84 UGX 6,793
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 UGX 3,734
$1.03 UGX 3,785
-1.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 UGX 2,022
$0.57 UGX 2,108
-3.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 UGX 11.1K
$2.88 UGX 10.6K
4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.48 UGX 35.0K
$9.24 UGX 34.1K
2.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 UGX 4,593
$1.25 UGX 4,596
-0.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 UGX 7,840
$2.04 UGX 7,517
3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 UGX 3,188
$0.87 UGX 3,210
-1.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.90 UGX 154.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 UGX 2,026
$0.53 UGX 1,969
3.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 UGX 1,036
$0.28 UGX 1,035
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 UGX 15.0K
$4.15 UGX 15.3K
-2.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 UGX 5,321
$1.44 UGX 5,320
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,024 UGX 33.3M
$8,869 UGX 32.7M
1.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,734 UGX 32.2M
$8,877 UGX 32.8M
-1.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.91 UGX 154.7K
$41.77 UGX 154.1K
0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.15 UGX 52.2K
$14.63 UGX 54.0K
-3.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.72 UGX 165.0K
$44.31 UGX 163.5K
0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.83 UGX 176.5K
$21.09 UGX 77.8K
126.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.16 UGX 26.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.16 UGX 22.7K
$6.19 UGX 22.8K
-0.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 UGX 593.3K
$160 UGX 590.5K
0.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,342 UGX 16.0M
$4,367 UGX 16.1M
-0.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 UGX 63.0K
$16.93 UGX 62.5K
0.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.46 UGX 53.3K
$14.03 UGX 51.8K
3.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.91 UGX 143.6K
$38.11 UGX 140.6K
2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.33 UGX 174.7K
$46.44 UGX 171.4K
1.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$393 UGX 1.5M
$98.5 UGX 363.3K
299.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 UGX 804.4K
$83.5 UGX 308.1K
161.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 UGX 3.7M
$268 UGX 988.6K
277.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 UGX 1.3M
$194 UGX 716.7K
79.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,213 UGX 4.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$990 UGX 3.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kampala
Mbarara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$199 UGX 732.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.8
20.8
-

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

Last update for Kampala: April 13, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: April 13, 2026

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

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