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: $753 in Kampala versus $540 in Mbarara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Kampala versus $874 in Mbarara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Kampala versus $1,208 in Mbarara.

Living in Kampala is roughly 39% more expensive than in Mbarara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kampala 44% lower, Mbarara 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

$2.70 UGX 9,993

1.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.91 UGX 99.5K

$26.47 UGX 97.9K

1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 UGX 32.4K

$8.42 UGX 31.2K

4.16%

Cappuccino

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-2.84%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,742

$0.47 UGX 1,751

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,153

$0.31 UGX 1,160

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 UGX 5,041

$1.43 UGX 5,286

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

$2.76 UGX 10.2K

2.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 UGX 2,617

$0.54 UGX 2,000

31.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,629

$1.22 UGX 4,495

2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 4,944

$1.38 UGX 5,088

-2.90%

Eggs

$1.76 UGX 6,501

$1.84 UGX 6,792

-4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 UGX 16.0K

$4.19 UGX 15.5K

3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 UGX 18.0K

$5.01 UGX 18.5K

-2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 UGX 15.6K

$3.85 UGX 14.2K

9.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.1K

$2.78 UGX 10.3K

-1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 UGX 5,598

$1.52 UGX 5,638

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 UGX 6,126

$1.75 UGX 6,465

-5.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 UGX 5,827

$1.55 UGX 5,729

1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 UGX 6,073

$1.59 UGX 5,883

3.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 UGX 7,194

$1.92 UGX 7,096

1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 UGX 3,955

$1.01 UGX 3,732

5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,973

$0.58 UGX 2,160

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 UGX 10.9K

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

-1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 UGX 31.9K

$8.60 UGX 31.8K

0.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,351

$1.18 UGX 4,377

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 UGX 7,816

$2.04 UGX 7,545

3.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 UGX 2,937

$0.87 UGX 3,201

-9.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.36 UGX 153.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 UGX 2,029

$0.57 UGX 2,122

-3.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,037

$0.28 UGX 1,038

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.24 UGX 15.7K

$4.22 UGX 15.6K

0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 UGX 5,285

$1.46 UGX 5,388

-2.05%

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

$8,909 UGX 33.0M

$9,083 UGX 33.6M

-1.92%

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

$8,617 UGX 31.9M

$8,679 UGX 32.1M

-0.72%

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

$42.44 UGX 157.0K

$41.67 UGX 154.1K

1.85%

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

$14.53 UGX 53.7K

$14.62 UGX 54.1K

-0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.09 UGX 159.4K

$44.35 UGX 164.0K

-2.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.76 UGX 180.4K

$20.92 UGX 77.4K

133.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 UGX 27.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 UGX 22.8K

$6.33 UGX 23.4K

-2.84%

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

$164 UGX 605.5K

$159 UGX 586.3K

3.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,247 UGX 15.7M

$4,244 UGX 15.7M

0.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.31 UGX 64.0K

$17.09 UGX 63.2K

1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.47 UGX 53.5K

$14.38 UGX 53.2K

0.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.03 UGX 140.7K

$38.10 UGX 140.9K

-0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.10 UGX 170.5K

$47.31 UGX 175.0K

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 UGX 1.5M

$97.4 UGX 360.2K

313.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 UGX 831.5K

$83.6 UGX 309.3K

168.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$987 UGX 3.6M

$261 UGX 964.1K

278.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 UGX 1.2M

$192 UGX 710.0K

75.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,253 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,001 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 UGX 710.4K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Kampala and $97.4 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 $166 vs $164 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,130 in Kampala and $810 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: $402 in Kampala versus $97.4 in Mbarara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $164 in Kampala versus $159 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 39% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.