Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbarara and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $537 per month in Mbarara vs $1,191 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $865 per month in Mbarara vs $1,856 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,193 per month in Mbarara vs $2,522 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Mbarara is about 55% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mbarara and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Mbarara 60% lower, Tbilisi 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

$10.91 ₾28.57

-75.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 UGX 99.0K

$43.19 ₾113

-38.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 UGX 31.6K

$8.53 ₾22.32

-1.29%

Cappuccino

$2.71 UGX 10.2K

$2.99 ₾7.82

-9.36%

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

$0.48 UGX 1,794

$0.81 ₾2.12

-40.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,080

$0.42 ₾1.09

-30.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 UGX 5,140

$2.16 ₾5.66

-36.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 UGX 10.7K

$2.88 ₾7.53

-0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 UGX 2,149

$1.94 ₾5.08

-70.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,680

$0.68 ₾1.77

83.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 UGX 5,016

$1.85 ₾4.83

-27.57%

Eggs

$1.79 UGX 6,713

$2.53 ₾6.63

-29.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.28 UGX 16.1K

$7.53 ₾19.70

-43.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 UGX 18.7K

$6.26 ₾16.40

-20.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.85 UGX 14.5K

$9.59 ₾25.10

-59.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 UGX 10.1K

$1.16 ₾3.04

132.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,713

$1.64 ₾4.29

-7.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 UGX 6,503

$1.88 ₾4.93

-7.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 UGX 5,999

$2.23 ₾5.84

-28.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 UGX 5,972

$0.70 ₾1.83

127.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 UGX 6,994

$0.64 ₾1.68

190.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 UGX 3,959

$1.18 ₾3.10

-11.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 UGX 2,157

$0.70 ₾1.83

-18.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 UGX 10.8K

$2.97 ₾7.79

-3.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.18 UGX 30.7K

$7.43 ₾19.46

10.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 UGX 4,473

$1.54 ₾4.03

-22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 UGX 7,759

$2.28 ₾5.98

-9.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 UGX 3,263

$0.36 ₾0.93

141.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 UGX 2,189

$1.42 ₾3.71

-59.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 UGX 1,057

$0.69 ₾1.81

-59.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 UGX 16.1K

$7.27 ₾19.02

-40.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 UGX 5,461

$1.09 ₾2.86

33.94%

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

$8,904 UGX 33.4M

$18.3K ₾48.0K

-51.41%

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

$8,779 UGX 32.9M

$20.5K ₾53.6K

-57.14%

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

$41.35 UGX 155.2K

$74.4 ₾195

-44.38%

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

$14.46 UGX 54.3K

$11.71 ₾30.65

23.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.05 UGX 161.6K

$17.60 ₾46.08

144.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.96 UGX 78.6K

$60.3 ₾158

-65.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.65

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 UGX 24.2K

$6.51 ₾17.03

-0.92%

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

$159 UGX 595.0K

$269 ₾704

-41.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,380 UGX 16.4M

$5,154 ₾13.5K

-15.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.91 UGX 63.4K

$77.1 ₾202

-78.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.39 UGX 54.0K

$43.48 ₾114

-66.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.89 UGX 142.2K

$118 ₾310

-67.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.98 UGX 176.3K

$113 ₾295

-58.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.5 UGX 369.5K

$709 ₾1,857

-86.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.7 UGX 314.0K

$465 ₾1,216

-81.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 UGX 990.5K

$1,316 ₾3,444

-79.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 UGX 727.1K

$767 ₾2,007

-74.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,525

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,775

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

11.89

74.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mbarara: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $98.5 in Mbarara versus $709 in Tbilisi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Mbarara versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $204 – making Mbarara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 122%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $805 per month in Mbarara and $1,787 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbarara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Mbarara and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Tbilisi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbarara, where all-in costs run around $537, than in Tbilisi at $1,191. In Mbarara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbarara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mbarara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.