Cost of Living Comparison Between Kasese and Mbarara Cost of Living Comparison Between Kasese and Mbarara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $217 per month in Kasese vs $540 in Mbarara, rent included.

A couple spends around $346 per month in Kasese vs $874 in Mbarara, rent included.

A family of three spends $476 per month in Kasese vs $1,208 in Mbarara, rent included.

Kasese is about 60% cheaper than Mbarara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kasese and Mbarara are more affordable than the global median – Kasese 84% lower, Mbarara 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 UGX 7,361

$2.70 UGX 9,993

-26.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.47 UGX 97.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 UGX 31.2K

Cappuccino

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-3.55%

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

$0.40 UGX 1,482

$0.47 UGX 1,751

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,086

$0.31 UGX 1,160

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 UGX 2,987

$1.43 UGX 5,286

-43.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 UGX 2,000

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 UGX 4,052

$1.22 UGX 4,495

-9.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 UGX 3,712

$1.38 UGX 5,088

-27.54%

Eggs

$2.96 UGX 11.0K

$1.84 UGX 6,792

60.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 UGX 15.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.41 UGX 20.0K

$5.01 UGX 18.5K

7.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.29 UGX 15.9K

$3.85 UGX 14.2K

11.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

$2.78 UGX 10.3K

-1.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,638

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,465

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 UGX 2,148

$1.55 UGX 5,729

-62.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 UGX 2,028

$1.59 UGX 5,883

-65.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 UGX 2,110

$1.92 UGX 7,096

-70.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 UGX 3,732

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 UGX 1,969

$0.58 UGX 2,160

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

Wine (Bottle)

$4.05 UGX 15.0K

$8.60 UGX 31.8K

-52.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,377

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 UGX 7,545

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 UGX 3,201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 UGX 2,122

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,038

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 UGX 15.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,388

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

$9,083 UGX 33.6M

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

$8,679 UGX 32.1M

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

$41.67 UGX 154.1K

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

$13.78 UGX 51.0K

$14.62 UGX 54.1K

-5.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.35 UGX 164.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.79 UGX 102.8K

$20.92 UGX 77.4K

32.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 UGX 23.4K

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

$159 UGX 586.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,244 UGX 15.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.11 UGX 52.2K

$17.09 UGX 63.2K

-17.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.38 UGX 53.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.10 UGX 140.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.61 UGX 72.5K

$47.31 UGX 175.0K

-58.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$97.4 UGX 360.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.6 UGX 309.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 UGX 964.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 UGX 710.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$400 UGX 1.5M

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 Kasese: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: July 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

Kasese vs Mbarara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mbarara is pricier by about 149%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $326 per month in Kasese and $810 in Mbarara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $217 in Kasese and $540 in Mbarara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Mbarara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $217 in Kasese and $540 in Mbarara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kasese – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kasese. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mbarara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.