Cost of Living Comparison Between Bungoma and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Bungoma and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $253 in Bungoma versus $619 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $373 in Bungoma versus $1,079 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $493 in Bungoma versus $1,539 in Mombasa.

Living in Bungoma costs roughly 59% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bungoma 81% lower, Mombasa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.58 KES 2,531

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KES 1,146

Cappuccino

$3.30 KES 426

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

$0.52 KES 66.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.87 KES 242

-15.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 KES 226

$2.89 KES 373

-39.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.82 KES 105

26.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 66.3

$0.54 KES 70.3

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 KES 166

$1.44 KES 186

-10.42%

Eggs

$1.31 KES 169

$1.75 KES 226

-25.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 KES 1,299

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 KES 777

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 KES 491

$5.21 KES 673

-27.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 KES 388

$1.81 KES 234

65.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 KES 111

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.8

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 92.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 KES 146

$0.58 KES 75.0

94.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 445

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 KES 1,026

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.96 KES 254

-18.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 KES 215

$2.84 KES 367

-41.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 96.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.00 KES 4,524

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 KES 402

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 197

$1.87 KES 242

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 KES 103

$4.61 KES 596

-82.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.60 KES 206

-15.00%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$44.01 KES 5,688

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

$14.12 KES 1,825

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.98 KES 3,746

$44.43 KES 5,743

-34.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.28 KES 2,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.59 KES 2,532

$19.64 KES 2,538

-0.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 KES 502

$4.59 KES 593

-15.25%

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

$61.3 KES 7,925

$86.0 KES 11.1K

-28.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,470 KES 707.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 KES 1,490

$13.40 KES 1,732

-13.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.87 KES 1,792

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.77 KES 5,010

$23.46 KES 3,032

65.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.44 KES 2,512

$46.74 KES 6,041

-58.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 KES 15.1K

$181 KES 23.3K

-35.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.5 KES 12.2K

$118 KES 15.2K

-19.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.6K

$595 KES 76.9K

-53.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 KES 19.1K

$448 KES 57.8K

-67.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,454 KES 704.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,880 KES 501.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 KES 40.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bungoma: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Bungoma and $181 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Bungoma vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $380 in Bungoma and $929 in Mombasa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Bungoma versus $181 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $61.3 in Bungoma versus $86.0 in Mombasa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bungoma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bungoma and Mombasa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bungoma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.