Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Kampala Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Kampala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Mbarara versus $720 in Kampala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $826 in Mbarara versus $1,098 in Kampala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,131 in Mbarara versus $1,475 in Kampala.

Living in Mbarara costs roughly 28% less than in Kampala, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mbarara 62% lower, Kampala 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 UGX 10.5K

$2.63 UGX 10.2K

3.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.08 UGX 100.8K

$26.64 UGX 102.9K

-2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 UGX 30.0K

$7.64 UGX 29.5K

1.57%

Cappuccino

$2.60 UGX 10.1K

$2.61 UGX 10.1K

-0.38%

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

$0.40 UGX 1,540

$0.42 UGX 1,638

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UGX 1,068

$0.28 UGX 1,072

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 UGX 5,172

$1.35 UGX 5,217

-0.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 UGX 7,298

$1.82 UGX 7,042

3.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 UGX 1,990

$0.78 UGX 3,023

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 UGX 3,684

$1.00 UGX 3,864

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,169

$1.34 UGX 5,181

Eggs

$1.59 UGX 6,159

$1.51 UGX 5,848

5.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.84 UGX 18.7K

$4.69 UGX 18.1K

3.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 UGX 18.9K

$5.09 UGX 19.6K

-3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 UGX 14.5K

$5.30 UGX 20.5K

-29.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 UGX 8,110

$2.16 UGX 8,341

-2.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 UGX 4,469

$1.17 UGX 4,507

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 UGX 5,392

$1.35 UGX 5,214

3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 UGX 4,957

$1.24 UGX 4,806

3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 UGX 4,826

$1.32 UGX 5,082

-5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,253

$1.36 UGX 5,247

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 UGX 3,011

$0.78 UGX 3,014

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 UGX 2,142

$0.56 UGX 2,161

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 UGX 10.2K

$2.58 UGX 9,976

2.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 UGX 29.9K

$8.10 UGX 31.3K

-4.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 UGX 4,155

$1.08 UGX 4,172

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 UGX 7,838

$1.98 UGX 7,652

2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 UGX 2,980

$0.82 UGX 3,165

-6.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.24 UGX 178.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 UGX 1,991

$0.55 UGX 2,132

-5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 UGX 1,224

$0.32 UGX 1,226

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 UGX 12.9K

$3.25 UGX 12.6K

2.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,652

$1.41 UGX 5,452

3.55%

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

$7,861 UGX 30.4M

$7,845 UGX 30.3M

0.21%

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

$7,888 UGX 30.5M

$7,825 UGX 30.2M

0.81%

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

$73.9 UGX 285.5K

$74.2 UGX 286.6K

-0.39%

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

$12.57 UGX 48.6K

$12.74 UGX 49.2K

-1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.93 UGX 146.6K

$37.59 UGX 145.2K

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.17 UGX 77.9K

$58.4 UGX 225.6K

-65.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 UGX 24.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 UGX 30.1K

$7.84 UGX 30.3K

-0.77%

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

$260 UGX 1.0M

$257 UGX 992.8K

1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,382 UGX 32.4M

$8,416 UGX 32.5M

-0.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.65 UGX 56.6K

$14.99 UGX 57.9K

-2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.84 UGX 53.5K

$13.77 UGX 53.2K

0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.21 UGX 132.2K

$33.79 UGX 130.6K

1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.35 UGX 179.1K

$46.41 UGX 179.3K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.6 UGX 361.8K

$523 UGX 2.0M

-82.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.3 UGX 302.6K

$181 UGX 697.8K

-56.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 UGX 975.0K

$1,149 UGX 4.4M

-78.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 UGX 728.4K

$335 UGX 1.3M

-43.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,250 UGX 4.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$983 UGX 3.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 UGX 735.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.75

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

Last update for Mbarara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kampala: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $93.6 in Mbarara and $523 in Kampala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Mbarara vs $27.00 in Kampala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $156 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

Mbarara vs Kampala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mbarara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $781 in Mbarara and $1,080 in Kampala 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: $93.6 in Mbarara versus $523 in Kampala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $260 in Mbarara versus $257 in Kampala. 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 38% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.