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 $526 in Mbarara, rent included.

A couple spends around $345 per month in Kasese vs $859 in Mbarara, rent included.

A family of three spends $474 per month in Kasese vs $1,192 in Mbarara, rent included.

Kasese is about 59% cheaper than Mbarara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kasese and Mbarara are more affordable than the global median – Kasese 84% lower, Mbarara 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 UGX 7,400

$2.84 UGX 10.7K

-30.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.95 UGX 97.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 UGX 32.4K

Cappuccino

$2.81 UGX 10.6K

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

2.18%

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

$0.41 UGX 1,529

$0.51 UGX 1,919

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 UGX 1,012

$0.29 UGX 1,085

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 UGX 2,990

$1.43 UGX 5,370

-44.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 UGX 2,209

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 UGX 4,291

$1.24 UGX 4,681

-8.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 UGX 3,703

$1.35 UGX 5,063

-27.41%

Eggs

$2.99 UGX 11.2K

$1.76 UGX 6,623

69.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 UGX 20.5K

$5.05 UGX 19.0K

7.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 UGX 16.0K

$3.84 UGX 14.4K

10.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

3.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,720

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,576

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 UGX 2,182

$1.52 UGX 5,729

-61.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 UGX 2,019

$1.62 UGX 6,094

-66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 UGX 2,052

$1.86 UGX 7,001

-70.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 UGX 4,006

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 UGX 2,029

$0.54 UGX 2,021

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 UGX 11.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

$8.68 UGX 32.6K

-53.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,427

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 UGX 8,026

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,023

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 2,019

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 970

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 UGX 16.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 UGX 5,566

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

$9,126 UGX 34.3M

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

$8,592 UGX 32.3M

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

$42.83 UGX 161.1K

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

$13.95 UGX 52.5K

$14.62 UGX 55.0K

-4.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.24 UGX 166.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.04 UGX 105.4K

$21.11 UGX 79.4K

32.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 UGX 23.8K

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

$163 UGX 613.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,232 UGX 15.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.73 UGX 51.6K

$16.80 UGX 63.2K

-18.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.46 UGX 54.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.37 UGX 148.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.65 UGX 73.9K

$47.76 UGX 179.6K

-58.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$96.6 UGX 363.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.7 UGX 311.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 UGX 1.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 UGX 743.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$405 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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: May 30, 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 143%, 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 $325 per month in Kasese and $790 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 $526 in Mbarara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 62% 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 $526 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.