Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $503 in Eldoret versus $676 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Eldoret versus $1,048 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Eldoret versus $1,420 in Mombasa.

Living in Eldoret costs roughly 26% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 63% lower, Mombasa 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 KES 195

$2.66 KES 345

-43.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.72 KES 4,493

$22.79 KES 2,949

52.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.02 KES 779

$10.48 KES 1,356

-42.56%

Cappuccino

$2.75 KES 355

$2.47 KES 320

11.34%

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

$0.30 KES 38.82

$0.71 KES 92.1

-57.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 KES 52.9

$0.42 KES 54.6

-2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 KES 309

$2.35 KES 304

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 KES 348

$3.17 KES 410

-15.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 KES 87.5

$0.94 KES 122

-27.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.3

$0.50 KES 65.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 KES 200

$1.51 KES 196

2.65%

Eggs

$1.57 KES 203

$1.83 KES 237

-14.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.88 KES 502

$10.14 KES 1,312

-61.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 KES 548

$5.69 KES 736

-25.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 KES 548

$5.18 KES 670

-18.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 KES 307

$1.86 KES 241

27.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

$0.85 KES 110

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.4

$1.79 KES 232

-62.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 KES 119

$0.70 KES 90.7

31.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 KES 71.4

$0.67 KES 86.3

-17.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 KES 61.6

$1.04 KES 135

-53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

$0.61 KES 78.9

14.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 KES 84.8

$0.49 KES 63.8

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 KES 461

$3.95 KES 511

-9.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 KES 773

$7.80 KES 1,009

-23.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 KES 263

$1.88 KES 243

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 KES 195

$2.76 KES 357

-45.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 KES 174

$0.79 KES 102

70.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.72 KES 5,011

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 197

$3.12 KES 403

-50.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 197

$1.70 KES 221

-10.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

$4.68 KES 606

-36.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.52 KES 197

0.66%

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

$18.8K KES 2.4M

$12.2K KES 1.6M

53.95%

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

$19.2K KES 2.5M

$12.0K KES 1.5M

60.39%

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

$39.96 KES 5,171

$55.6 KES 7,191

-28.09%

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

$15.34 KES 1,985

$13.37 KES 1,730

14.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.18 KES 4,423

$33.66 KES 4,355

1.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.07 KES 5,055

$18.10 KES 2,343

115.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.97 KES 2,454

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 KES 664

$10.78 KES 1,394

-52.41%

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

$63.1 KES 8,166

$87.8 KES 11.4K

-28.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K KES 1.4M

$5,485 KES 709.7K

98.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.53 KES 1,492

$13.38 KES 1,731

-13.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 KES 3,199

$13.60 KES 1,760

81.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.65 KES 2,542

$22.81 KES 2,951

-13.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.15 KES 4,549

$45.84 KES 5,931

-23.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.4 KES 12.1K

$192 KES 24.8K

-51.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.8 KES 11.4K

$154 KES 19.9K

-43.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 KES 62.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 KES 35.7K

$309 KES 40.0K

-10.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$608 KES 78.7K

$5,467 KES 707.4K

-88.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,798 KES 491.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

13.15%

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

Last update for Eldoret: August 18, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $93.4 in Eldoret and $192 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Eldoret vs $23.00 in Mombasa. Groceries flip the comparison at $133 vs $170, with Eldoret cheaper for home cooking.

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

Eldoret vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $755 in Eldoret and $1,014 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: $93.4 in Eldoret versus $192 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $503 per month in Eldoret versus $676 in Mombasa – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Eldoret 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.

Expats usually find Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.