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: $258 in Bungoma versus $605 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $371 in Bungoma versus $1,067 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $485 in Bungoma versus $1,528 in Mombasa.

Living in Bungoma costs roughly 57% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bungoma 81% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 KES 310

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.38 KES 2,513

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KES 1,135

Cappuccino

$3.14 KES 408

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

$0.51 KES 66.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 KES 195

$1.90 KES 246

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 KES 224

$2.98 KES 387

-41.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.83 KES 107

18.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 66.3

$0.53 KES 69.2

-3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 KES 173

$1.42 KES 184

-6.34%

Eggs

$1.35 KES 175

$1.80 KES 233

-25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 KES 1,268

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 KES 773

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.81 KES 493

$5.40 KES 701

-29.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 KES 404

$1.86 KES 241

67.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 113

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 KES 147

$0.58 KES 75.1

94.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 447

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 KES 1,004

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.96 KES 254

-21.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 KES 224

$2.77 KES 359

-37.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.22 KES 4,566

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 KES 398

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 196

$1.95 KES 253

-22.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 KES 102

$4.52 KES 586

-82.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 KES 175

$1.65 KES 213

-18.18%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

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

$45.06 KES 5,842

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

$14.19 KES 1,840

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.02 KES 3,762

$43.51 KES 5,641

-33.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.46 KES 2,523

$19.24 KES 2,494

1.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.97 KES 515

$4.65 KES 604

-14.62%

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

$62.0 KES 8,044

$85.5 KES 11.1K

-27.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,329 KES 691.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.57 KES 1,500

$13.41 KES 1,739

-13.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.57 KES 1,760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.32 KES 5,099

$22.90 KES 2,970

71.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.12 KES 2,480

$47.05 KES 6,101

-59.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

$177 KES 23.0K

-33.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.2 KES 12.1K

$114 KES 14.8K

-18.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 KES 35.2K

$593 KES 76.9K

-54.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 KES 19.2K

$460 KES 59.6K

-67.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,473 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,912 KES 507.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bungoma: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Bungoma and $177 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 135% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $387 in Bungoma and $908 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: $118 in Bungoma versus $177 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 121% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Bungoma versus $85.5 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 135% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.