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: $526 in Mbarara versus $747 in Kampala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $859 in Mbarara versus $1,128 in Kampala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,192 in Mbarara versus $1,508 in Kampala.

Living in Mbarara costs roughly 30% less than in Kampala, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mbarara 61% lower, Kampala 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 UGX 10.7K

$2.82 UGX 10.6K

0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.95 UGX 97.6K

$26.26 UGX 98.7K

-1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 UGX 32.4K

$8.39 UGX 31.5K

2.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

$2.87 UGX 10.8K

-4.18%

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

$0.51 UGX 1,919

$0.51 UGX 1,914

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,085

$0.31 UGX 1,178

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 UGX 5,370

$1.37 UGX 5,142

4.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 UGX 2,209

$0.74 UGX 2,797

-20.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 UGX 4,681

$1.25 UGX 4,690

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 5,063

$1.34 UGX 5,045

0.75%

Eggs

$1.76 UGX 6,623

$1.82 UGX 6,849

-3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.2K

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 UGX 19.0K

$4.92 UGX 18.5K

2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 UGX 14.4K

$4.15 UGX 15.6K

-7.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,720

$1.46 UGX 5,496

4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,576

$1.65 UGX 6,219

6.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,729

$1.53 UGX 5,746

-0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 UGX 6,094

$1.63 UGX 6,121

-0.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 UGX 7,001

$1.91 UGX 7,172

-2.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 UGX 4,006

$1.02 UGX 3,841

4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 UGX 2,021

$0.54 UGX 2,013

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 UGX 11.3K

$2.89 UGX 10.9K

3.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 UGX 32.6K

$8.75 UGX 32.9K

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,427

$1.24 UGX 4,665

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 UGX 8,026

$2.14 UGX 8,053

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 UGX 3,023

$0.86 UGX 3,248

-6.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.33 UGX 155.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 UGX 2,019

$0.58 UGX 2,162

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 970

$0.26 UGX 972

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 UGX 16.0K

$4.13 UGX 15.5K

2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 UGX 5,566

$1.46 UGX 5,478

1.37%

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

$9,126 UGX 34.3M

$8,985 UGX 33.8M

1.57%

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

$8,592 UGX 32.3M

$8,649 UGX 32.5M

-0.66%

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

$42.83 UGX 161.1K

$41.73 UGX 156.9K

2.64%

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

$14.62 UGX 55.0K

$14.10 UGX 53.0K

3.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.24 UGX 166.4K

$43.81 UGX 164.8K

0.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.11 UGX 79.4K

$48.49 UGX 182.4K

-56.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.56 UGX 28.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 UGX 23.8K

$6.25 UGX 23.5K

1.28%

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

$163 UGX 613.4K

$161 UGX 603.6K

1.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,232 UGX 15.9M

$4,373 UGX 16.4M

-3.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.80 UGX 63.2K

$17.20 UGX 64.7K

-2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.46 UGX 54.4K

$14.21 UGX 53.4K

1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.37 UGX 148.0K

$39.06 UGX 146.9K

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.76 UGX 179.6K

$47.64 UGX 179.1K

0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$96.6 UGX 363.2K

$395 UGX 1.5M

-75.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.7 UGX 311.1K

$219 UGX 822.4K

-62.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 UGX 1.0M

$982 UGX 3.7M

-72.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 UGX 743.1K

$347 UGX 1.3M

-42.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$980 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 UGX 717.4K

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 Mbarara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kampala: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $96.6 in Mbarara and $395 in Kampala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Mbarara vs $26.00 in Kampala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $166 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $790 in Mbarara and $1,121 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: $96.6 in Mbarara versus $395 in Kampala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $163 in Mbarara versus $161 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 $26.00 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 42% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.