Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Kasese Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Kasese

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Mbarara vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

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

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

Mbarara costs about 143% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 UGX 10.7K

$1.97 UGX 7,400

44.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.95 UGX 97.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 UGX 32.4K

Cappuccino

$2.75 UGX 10.3K

$2.81 UGX 10.6K

-2.14%

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

$0.51 UGX 1,919

$0.41 UGX 1,529

24.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,085

$0.27 UGX 1,012

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 UGX 5,370

$0.80 UGX 2,990

78.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 UGX 2,209

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 UGX 4,681

$1.14 UGX 4,291

8.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 UGX 5,063

$0.98 UGX 3,703

37.76%

Eggs

$1.76 UGX 6,623

$2.99 UGX 11.2K

-41.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 UGX 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 UGX 19.0K

$5.44 UGX 20.5K

-7.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 UGX 14.4K

$4.24 UGX 16.0K

-9.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 UGX 10.3K

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-3.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,720

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,576

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,729

$0.58 UGX 2,182

162.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 UGX 6,094

$0.54 UGX 2,019

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 UGX 7,001

$0.55 UGX 2,052

238.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 UGX 4,006

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 UGX 2,021

$0.54 UGX 2,029

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 UGX 11.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 UGX 32.6K

$4.08 UGX 15.3K

112.75%

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)

$14.62 UGX 55.0K

$13.95 UGX 52.5K

4.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.24 UGX 166.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.11 UGX 79.4K

$28.04 UGX 105.4K

-24.71%

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)

$16.80 UGX 63.2K

$13.73 UGX 51.6K

22.36%

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

$47.76 UGX 179.6K

$19.65 UGX 73.9K

143.05%

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 Mbarara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kasese: 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

Mbarara vs Kasese: 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 $790 per month in Mbarara and $325 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $526 in Mbarara and $217 in Kasese. 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 $526 in Mbarara and $217 in Kasese, 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.