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: $540 in Mbarara versus $753 in Kampala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $874 in Mbarara versus $1,118 in Kampala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,208 in Mbarara versus $1,483 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 60% lower, Kampala 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 UGX 9,993

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

-1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.47 UGX 97.9K

$26.91 UGX 99.5K

-1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 UGX 31.2K

$8.77 UGX 32.4K

-3.99%

Cappuccino

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

2.92%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,751

$0.47 UGX 1,742

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,160

$0.31 UGX 1,153

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 UGX 5,286

$1.36 UGX 5,041

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 UGX 10.2K

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

-2.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 UGX 2,000

$0.71 UGX 2,617

-23.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 UGX 4,495

$1.25 UGX 4,629

-2.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 UGX 5,088

$1.34 UGX 4,944

2.99%

Eggs

$1.84 UGX 6,792

$1.76 UGX 6,501

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 UGX 15.5K

$4.34 UGX 16.0K

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 UGX 18.5K

$4.87 UGX 18.0K

2.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.85 UGX 14.2K

$4.23 UGX 15.6K

-8.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 UGX 10.3K

$2.73 UGX 10.1K

1.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,638

$1.51 UGX 5,598

0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,465

$1.66 UGX 6,126

5.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 UGX 5,729

$1.58 UGX 5,827

-1.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 UGX 5,883

$1.64 UGX 6,073

-3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 UGX 7,096

$1.94 UGX 7,194

-1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 UGX 3,732

$1.07 UGX 3,955

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,160

$0.53 UGX 1,973

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

$2.95 UGX 10.9K

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.60 UGX 31.8K

$8.62 UGX 31.9K

-0.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,377

$1.18 UGX 4,351

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 UGX 7,545

$2.11 UGX 7,816

-3.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 UGX 3,201

$0.79 UGX 2,937

10.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.36 UGX 153.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 UGX 2,122

$0.55 UGX 2,029

3.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,038

$0.28 UGX 1,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 UGX 15.6K

$4.24 UGX 15.7K

-0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,388

$1.43 UGX 5,285

2.10%

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

$9,083 UGX 33.6M

$8,909 UGX 33.0M

1.96%

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

$8,679 UGX 32.1M

$8,617 UGX 31.9M

0.73%

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

$41.67 UGX 154.1K

$42.44 UGX 157.0K

-1.81%

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

$14.62 UGX 54.1K

$14.53 UGX 53.7K

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.35 UGX 164.0K

$43.09 UGX 159.4K

2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.92 UGX 77.4K

$48.76 UGX 180.4K

-57.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.42 UGX 27.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 UGX 23.4K

$6.15 UGX 22.8K

2.93%

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

$159 UGX 586.3K

$164 UGX 605.5K

-3.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,244 UGX 15.7M

$4,247 UGX 15.7M

-0.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.09 UGX 63.2K

$17.31 UGX 64.0K

-1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.38 UGX 53.2K

$14.47 UGX 53.5K

-0.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.10 UGX 140.9K

$38.03 UGX 140.7K

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.31 UGX 175.0K

$46.10 UGX 170.5K

2.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$97.4 UGX 360.2K

$402 UGX 1.5M

-75.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.6 UGX 309.3K

$225 UGX 831.5K

-62.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 UGX 964.1K

$987 UGX 3.6M

-73.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 UGX 710.0K

$337 UGX 1.2M

-42.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,253 UGX 4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,001 UGX 3.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 UGX 710.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kampala: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $97.4 in Mbarara and $402 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 $164 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 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $810 in Mbarara and $1,130 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: $97.4 in Mbarara versus $402 in Kampala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $159 in Mbarara versus $164 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 39% less than in Kampala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.