Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Mombasa

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 KES 292

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 KES 3,002

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 KES 1,359

Cappuccino

$3.63 KES 470

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

$0.93 KES 120

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 297

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 KES 125

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

Eggs

$1.82 KES 236

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 KES 1,421

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 KES 729

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 KES 692

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 KES 155

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 KES 228

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.6

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 KES 130

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KES 77.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KES 58.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 KES 598

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 KES 979

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 KES 258

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 KES 378

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.80 KES 5,031

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 KES 401

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 220

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 KES 599

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 KES 171

$1.52 KES 197

-13.16%

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)

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$54.3 KES 7,042

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

$13.03 KES 1,690

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.85 KES 4,389

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.25 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.13 KES 2,481

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 KES 1,403

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

$87.5 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,425 KES 703.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.86 KES 1,667

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.38 KES 1,735

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.47 KES 3,043

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.29 KES 6,003

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 KES 30.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 KES 70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 KES 52.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,305 KES 687.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,850 KES 499.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Busia: September 29, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: September 26, 2026

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

Busia vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Busia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mombasa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – Busia wins on affordability, Mombasa on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.