Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kasese and Busia

For one person, living is cheaper in Busia: $70.2 a month against $186 in Kasese, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Kasese

🇺🇬 Uganda

$186

/mo nomad

Busia

🇺🇬 Uganda

$70.2

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kasese and in Busia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kasese and in Busia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $186 in Kasese versus $70.2 in Busia.

Kasese $186
Busia $70.2

Estimated couple costs with rent: $298 in Kasese versus $116 in Busia.

Kasese $298
Busia $116

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $410 in Kasese versus $161 in Busia.

Kasese $410
Busia $161

Living in Kasese is roughly 165% more expensive than in Busia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kasese 86% lower, Busia 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.67 UGX 6,865

Cappuccino

$2.48 UGX 10.2K

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

$0.37 UGX 1,534

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 UGX 938

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 UGX 3,093

Milk (1 liter)

$0.28 UGX 1,141

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 UGX 4,067

$1.22 UGX 5,009

-18.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 UGX 3,301

Eggs

$2.63 UGX 10.8K

$1.48 UGX 6,071

77.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 UGX 19.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.72 UGX 15.3K

$3.55 UGX 14.6K

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 UGX 9,851

$2.44 UGX 10.0K

-2.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 UGX 2,057

$0.71 UGX 2,918

-29.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 UGX 2,032

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 UGX 2,055

$1.46 UGX 6,024

-65.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 UGX 1,900

$0.23 UGX 943

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.09 UGX 4,489

Wine (Bottle)

$3.53 UGX 14.5K

$4.95 UGX 20.4K

-28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 UGX 4,046

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,894

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

$12.07 UGX 49.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.74 UGX 97.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.05 UGX 49.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$16.55 UGX 68.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$362 UGX 1.5M

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

Last update for Kasese: October 20, 2026

Last update for Busia: October 17, 2026

Good to know

🇺🇬 Kasese

🇺🇬 Busia

🕒 Local time

14:37 2:37 PM

Same time as Kasese

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

101,679

64,900

💱 Currency

Ugandan Shilling UGX Sh

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD

10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR

10,000 UGX = 2.43 USD

10,000 UGX = 2.16 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Kasese Busia 450 km

From you

Kasese
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Kasese vs Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Kasese. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $279 in Kasese and $105 in Busia 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Kasese. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $186 per month in Kasese versus $70.2 in Busia – a 165% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Busia 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 Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Kasese. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.