Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Busia

😐 Solo nomad: Mbarara is 425.7% more expensive than Busia without rent, and 561.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mbarara is 340.1% more expensive than Busia without rent, and 563.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80 UGX 10.0K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.35 UGX 94.4K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 UGX 31.7K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 UGX 9,762
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 UGX 1,696
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 UGX 1,122
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 UGX 5,120
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 UGX 10.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.57 UGX 2,043
$0.35 UGX 1,241
62.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 UGX 4,510
$1.41 UGX 5,040
-10.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 UGX 4,781
-
-
Eggs
$1.84 UGX 6,606
$1.71 UGX 6,130
7.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.26 UGX 15.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 UGX 18.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.84 UGX 13.8K
$4.11 UGX 14.7K
-6.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 UGX 9,798
$2.75 UGX 9,854
-0.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 UGX 5,247
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 UGX 6,183
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 UGX 5,690
$0.84 UGX 3,018
89.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 UGX 5,923
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 UGX 6,664
$1.64 UGX 5,859
13.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 UGX 3,775
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 UGX 2,052
$0.29 UGX 1,047
96.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 UGX 10.4K
$1.28 UGX 4,579
126.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.73 UGX 34.9K
$5.39 UGX 19.3K
80.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 UGX 4,429
$1.14 UGX 4,069
8.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 UGX 7,397
$1.36 UGX 4,885
51.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 UGX 3,039
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 UGX 1,910
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 UGX 928
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 UGX 14.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 UGX 5,395
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,164 UGX 32.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,804 UGX 31.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.68 UGX 152.9K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.15 UGX 50.7K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.68 UGX 160.1K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.81 UGX 74.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.10 UGX 21.8K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 UGX 565.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,397 UGX 15.8M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.19 UGX 61.6K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.30 UGX 51.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.92 UGX 139.5K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.31 UGX 165.9K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.4 UGX 349.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.2 UGX 298.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 UGX 929.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 UGX 694.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mbarara
Busia
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.8
0
-

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

Last update for Mbarara: March 2, 2026

Last update for Busia: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities