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: $260 in Bungoma versus $614 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $375 in Bungoma versus $1,068 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $490 in Bungoma versus $1,523 in Mombasa.

Living in Bungoma costs roughly 58% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bungoma 81% lower, Mombasa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 KES 301

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.28 KES 2,488

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 KES 1,154

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 419

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

$0.48 KES 61.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 KES 57.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.97 KES 255

-20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 KES 216

$2.91 KES 376

-42.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.83 KES 106

25.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 62.6

$0.54 KES 69.8

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 KES 172

$1.41 KES 182

-5.67%

Eggs

$1.30 KES 167

$1.82 KES 235

-28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 KES 1,279

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 KES 757

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.66 KES 473

$5.24 KES 676

-30.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 KES 402

$1.82 KES 235

71.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 112

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 196

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.7

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 KES 80.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 KES 148

$0.62 KES 79.8

85.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 429

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 KES 1,005

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.95 KES 252

-18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 KES 218

$2.77 KES 358

-38.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 94.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.27 KES 4,423

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 KES 408

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.90 KES 245

-17.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 KES 96.9

$4.55 KES 587

-83.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.63 KES 211

-12.88%

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

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

$44.31 KES 5,720

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

$14.23 KES 1,837

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.68 KES 3,831

$44.18 KES 5,702

-32.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.34 KES 2,367

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.26 KES 2,486

$19.55 KES 2,523

-1.48%

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 KES 493

$4.59 KES 592

-16.78%

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

$61.7 KES 7,957

$85.7 KES 11.1K

-28.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,452 KES 703.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.84 KES 1,528

$13.12 KES 1,693

-9.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.86 KES 1,789

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.59 KES 4,980

$23.60 KES 3,046

63.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.00 KES 2,452

$46.61 KES 6,016

-59.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$116 KES 15.0K

$179 KES 23.1K

-35.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.7 KES 12.0K

$114 KES 14.7K

-18.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 KES 34.8K

$597 KES 77.0K

-54.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 KES 19.0K

$455 KES 58.8K

-67.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,498 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,826 KES 493.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bungoma: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Bungoma and $179 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, Getting Around. The 136% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $390 in Bungoma and $921 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: $116 in Bungoma versus $179 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $61.7 in Bungoma versus $85.7 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 136% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.