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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $540 per month in Mbarara vs $217 in Kasese, rent included.

A couple spends around $874 per month in Mbarara vs $346 in Kasese, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,208 per month in Mbarara vs $476 in Kasese, rent included.

Mbarara costs about 149% more than Kasese, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mbarara and Kasese are more affordable than the global median – Mbarara 60% lower, Kasese 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 UGX 9,993

$1.99 UGX 7,361

35.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.47 UGX 97.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 UGX 31.2K

Cappuccino

$2.82 UGX 10.4K

$2.72 UGX 10.1K

3.68%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,751

$0.40 UGX 1,482

17.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 UGX 1,160

$0.29 UGX 1,086

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 UGX 5,286

$0.81 UGX 2,987

76.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 UGX 10.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 UGX 2,000

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 UGX 4,495

$1.10 UGX 4,052

10.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 UGX 5,088

$1.00 UGX 3,712

38.00%

Eggs

$1.84 UGX 6,792

$2.96 UGX 11.0K

-37.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 UGX 15.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 UGX 18.5K

$5.41 UGX 20.0K

-7.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.85 UGX 14.2K

$4.29 UGX 15.9K

-10.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 UGX 10.3K

$2.74 UGX 10.2K

1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,638

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 UGX 6,465

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 UGX 5,729

$0.58 UGX 2,148

167.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 UGX 5,883

$0.55 UGX 2,028

189.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 UGX 7,096

$0.57 UGX 2,110

236.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 UGX 3,732

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 UGX 2,160

$0.53 UGX 1,969

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 UGX 11.0K

Wine (Bottle)

$8.60 UGX 31.8K

$4.05 UGX 15.0K

112.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 UGX 4,377

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 UGX 7,545

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 UGX 3,201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 UGX 2,122

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,038

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 UGX 15.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,388

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

$9,083 UGX 33.6M

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

$8,679 UGX 32.1M

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

$41.67 UGX 154.1K

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

$14.62 UGX 54.1K

$13.78 UGX 51.0K

6.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.35 UGX 164.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.92 UGX 77.4K

$27.79 UGX 102.8K

-24.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 UGX 23.4K

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

$159 UGX 586.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,244 UGX 15.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.09 UGX 63.2K

$14.11 UGX 52.2K

21.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.38 UGX 53.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.10 UGX 140.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.31 UGX 175.0K

$19.61 UGX 72.5K

141.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$97.4 UGX 360.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.6 UGX 309.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 UGX 964.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 UGX 710.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$400 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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kasese: July 11, 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 149%, 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 $810 per month in Mbarara and $326 in Kasese. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $540 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 63% 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 $540 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.