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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $521 per month in Mbarara vs $207 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $826 per month in Mbarara vs $330 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,131 per month in Mbarara vs $452 in Kasese, rent included.

Mbarara costs about 152% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbarara and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Mbarara 62% lower, Kasese 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 UGX 10.5K

$1.81 UGX 6,989

49.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.08 UGX 100.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 UGX 30.0K

Cappuccino

$2.60 UGX 10.1K

$2.71 UGX 10.5K

-4.06%

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

$0.40 UGX 1,540

$0.41 UGX 1,591

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 UGX 1,068

$0.27 UGX 1,050

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 UGX 5,172

$0.78 UGX 2,997

71.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 UGX 7,298

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 UGX 1,990

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 UGX 3,684

$1.05 UGX 4,042

-9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,169

$0.91 UGX 3,511

47.25%

Eggs

$1.59 UGX 6,159

$2.80 UGX 10.8K

-43.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.84 UGX 18.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 UGX 18.9K

$5.39 UGX 20.8K

-9.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 UGX 14.5K

$4.07 UGX 15.7K

-7.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 UGX 8,110

$2.60 UGX 10.1K

-19.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 UGX 4,469

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 UGX 5,392

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 UGX 4,957

$0.52 UGX 1,993

146.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 UGX 4,826

$0.51 UGX 1,983

145.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 UGX 5,253

$0.55 UGX 2,141

147.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 UGX 3,011

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 UGX 2,142

$0.55 UGX 2,143

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 UGX 10.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 UGX 29.9K

$3.98 UGX 15.4K

94.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 UGX 4,155

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 UGX 7,838

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 UGX 2,980

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 UGX 1,991

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 UGX 1,224

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 UGX 12.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,652

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

$7,861 UGX 30.4M

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

$7,888 UGX 30.5M

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

$73.9 UGX 285.5K

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

$12.57 UGX 48.6K

$13.25 UGX 51.2K

-5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.93 UGX 146.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.17 UGX 77.9K

$26.72 UGX 103.2K

-24.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 UGX 30.1K

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

$260 UGX 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,382 UGX 32.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.65 UGX 56.6K

$13.49 UGX 52.1K

8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.84 UGX 53.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.21 UGX 132.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.35 UGX 179.1K

$18.30 UGX 70.7K

153.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.6 UGX 361.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.3 UGX 302.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 UGX 975.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 UGX 728.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$391 UGX 1.5M

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 Kasese: September 5, 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 152%, 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 $781 per month in Mbarara and $310 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $521 in Mbarara and $207 in Kasese. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 51% 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 $521 in Mbarara and $207 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.