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: $720 in Kampala versus $521 in Mbarara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Kampala versus $826 in Mbarara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Kampala versus $1,131 in Mbarara.

Living in Kampala is roughly 38% more expensive than in Mbarara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 48% lower, Mbarara 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 UGX 10.2K

$2.71 UGX 10.5K

-2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.64 UGX 102.9K

$26.08 UGX 100.8K

2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 UGX 29.5K

$7.76 UGX 30.0K

-1.55%

Cappuccino

$2.61 UGX 10.1K

$2.60 UGX 10.1K

0.38%

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

$0.42 UGX 1,638

$0.40 UGX 1,540

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UGX 1,072

$0.28 UGX 1,068

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 UGX 5,217

$1.34 UGX 5,172

0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 UGX 7,042

$1.89 UGX 7,298

-3.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 UGX 3,023

$0.52 UGX 1,990

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 UGX 3,864

$0.95 UGX 3,684

5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,181

$1.34 UGX 5,169

Eggs

$1.51 UGX 5,848

$1.59 UGX 6,159

-5.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.69 UGX 18.1K

$4.84 UGX 18.7K

-3.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 UGX 19.6K

$4.90 UGX 18.9K

3.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 UGX 20.5K

$3.75 UGX 14.5K

41.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 UGX 8,341

$2.10 UGX 8,110

2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 UGX 4,507

$1.16 UGX 4,469

0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 5,214

$1.40 UGX 5,392

-3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 UGX 4,806

$1.28 UGX 4,957

-3.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 UGX 5,082

$1.25 UGX 4,826

5.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,247

$1.36 UGX 5,253

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 UGX 3,014

$0.78 UGX 3,011

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 UGX 2,161

$0.55 UGX 2,142

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 UGX 9,976

$2.64 UGX 10.2K

-2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 UGX 31.3K

$7.75 UGX 29.9K

4.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 UGX 4,172

$1.08 UGX 4,155

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 UGX 7,652

$2.03 UGX 7,838

-2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 UGX 3,165

$0.77 UGX 2,980

6.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.24 UGX 178.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 UGX 2,132

$0.52 UGX 1,991

5.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 UGX 1,226

$0.32 UGX 1,224

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 UGX 12.6K

$3.34 UGX 12.9K

-2.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 UGX 5,452

$1.46 UGX 5,652

-3.42%

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

$7,845 UGX 30.3M

$7,861 UGX 30.4M

-0.21%

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

$7,825 UGX 30.2M

$7,888 UGX 30.5M

-0.80%

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

$74.2 UGX 286.6K

$73.9 UGX 285.5K

0.39%

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

$12.74 UGX 49.2K

$12.57 UGX 48.6K

1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.59 UGX 145.2K

$37.93 UGX 146.6K

-0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.4 UGX 225.6K

$20.17 UGX 77.9K

189.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 UGX 24.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 UGX 30.3K

$7.78 UGX 30.1K

0.77%

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

$257 UGX 992.8K

$260 UGX 1.0M

-1.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,416 UGX 32.5M

$8,382 UGX 32.4M

0.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.99 UGX 57.9K

$14.65 UGX 56.6K

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.77 UGX 53.2K

$13.84 UGX 53.5K

-0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.79 UGX 130.6K

$34.21 UGX 132.2K

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 UGX 179.3K

$46.35 UGX 179.1K

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 UGX 2.0M

$93.6 UGX 361.8K

458.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 UGX 697.8K

$78.3 UGX 302.6K

130.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 UGX 4.4M

$252 UGX 975.0K

355.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 UGX 1.3M

$189 UGX 728.4K

77.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,250 UGX 4.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$983 UGX 3.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 UGX 735.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.75

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

Last update for Kampala: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $523 in Kampala and $93.6 in Mbarara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Kampala vs $26.00 in Mbarara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $147 per month, with Mbarara cheaper across the board.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,080 in Kampala and $781 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: $523 in Kampala versus $93.6 in Mbarara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $257 in Kampala versus $260 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 $27.00 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 38% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.