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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Tbilisi vs $542 in Mbarara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Tbilisi vs $869 in Mbarara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,518 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,196 in Mbarara, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 117% more than Mbarara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Mbarara are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 12% lower, Mbarara 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.09 ₾29.33

$2.71 UGX 9,884

309.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.24 ₾114

$26.17 UGX 95.5K

65.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ₾22.62

$8.46 UGX 30.9K

1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.86

$2.76 UGX 10.0K

7.61%

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

$0.76 ₾2.01

$0.51 UGX 1,847

49.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.29 UGX 1,057

58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ₾5.87

$1.37 UGX 4,981

62.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.72

$2.82 UGX 10.3K

3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₾5.21

$0.54 UGX 1,953

264.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.94

$1.21 UGX 4,396

-39.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₾4.81

$1.33 UGX 4,867

36.84%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.60

$1.82 UGX 6,633

36.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₾20.26

$4.43 UGX 16.2K

72.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 ₾16.58

$5.02 UGX 18.3K

24.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 ₾25.12

$3.99 UGX 14.6K

138.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ₾3.24

$2.79 UGX 10.2K

-55.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.32

$1.47 UGX 5,377

11.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.95

$1.68 UGX 6,130

11.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₾6.01

$1.52 UGX 5,537

49.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.77

$1.57 UGX 5,736

-57.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.78

$1.93 UGX 7,041

-65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₾3.23

$1.02 UGX 3,728

19.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.85

$0.54 UGX 1,972

29.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.72

$3.00 UGX 10.9K

-2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ₾20.40

$9.23 UGX 33.7K

-16.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.09

$1.23 UGX 4,487

26.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₾5.86

$2.11 UGX 7,708

5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.81 UGX 2,956

-51.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 ₾38.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₾3.82

$0.58 UGX 2,123

148.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$0.26 UGX 944

165.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 ₾19.50

$4.11 UGX 15.0K

79.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.03

$1.49 UGX 5,431

-23.49%

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

$18.2K ₾48.0K

$9,132 UGX 33.3M

98.86%

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

$20.4K ₾54.1K

$8,631 UGX 31.5M

136.84%

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

$73.6 ₾195

$41.44 UGX 151.2K

77.70%

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

$11.64 ₾30.78

$14.65 UGX 53.4K

-20.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.63 ₾46.62

$43.91 UGX 160.1K

-59.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 ₾162

$20.66 UGX 75.3K

197.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 ₾44.55

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 ₾17.69

$6.16 UGX 22.4K

8.60%

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

$264 ₾698

$163 UGX 595.1K

61.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,169 ₾13.7K

$4,305 UGX 15.7M

20.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 ₾199

$16.69 UGX 60.9K

350.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.26 ₾114

$14.05 UGX 51.2K

207.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾311

$38.82 UGX 141.6K

202.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾295

$46.58 UGX 169.9K

139.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 ₾1,866

$95.7 UGX 348.9K

637.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₾1,220

$82.5 UGX 300.9K

459.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 ₾3,486

$268 UGX 978.0K

391.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₾2,064

$197 UGX 720.3K

295.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 ₾6,512

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₾3,725

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$672 ₾1,778

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

20.8

-42.84%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Mbarara: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Tbilisi versus $95.7 in Mbarara. 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $26.00 in Mbarara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $165 – 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

Tbilisi vs Mbarara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 117%, 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 $1,767 per month in Tbilisi and $812 in Mbarara. 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi and $26.00 in Mbarara. 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 $542, than in Tbilisi at $1,178. 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.