Cost of Living Comparison Between Galle and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Galle and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Galle versus $618 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $888 in Galle versus $1,060 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,277 in Galle versus $1,502 in Mombasa.

Living in Galle costs roughly 19% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Galle 63% lower, Mombasa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 LKR 987

$2.35 KES 304

25.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.32 LKR 8,508

$19.18 KES 2,478

32.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 LKR 2,628

$8.80 KES 1,137

-11.14%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 920

$3.18 KES 411

-13.84%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$0.48 KES 62.4

52.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 126

$0.48 KES 61.7

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 769

$1.96 KES 253

16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 1,002

$2.82 KES 364

5.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 590

$0.82 KES 106

114.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.49 KES 63.9

-34.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 269

$1.40 KES 180

-42.86%

Eggs

$1.95 LKR 655

$1.79 KES 231

8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 LKR 4,786

$9.71 KES 1,255

46.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,612

$5.82 KES 752

-17.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 LKR 2,777

$5.22 KES 675

58.43%

Apples (1kg)

$7.48 LKR 2,512

$1.79 KES 231

317.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 297

$0.91 KES 117

-3.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,978

$1.52 KES 197

287.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 417

$0.79 KES 102

56.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 374

$0.68 KES 87.5

63.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 478

$1.08 KES 139

31.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 383

$0.66 KES 85.4

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 154

$0.60 KES 78.0

-23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 LKR 3,440

$3.30 KES 427

210.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 LKR 3,085

$7.95 KES 1,027

15.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 694

$1.88 KES 242

10.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 989

$2.77 KES 358

6.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 53.9

$0.75 KES 96.4

-78.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,532

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 LKR 105

$3.05 KES 394

-89.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.94 KES 251

-82.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$4.58 KES 592

-86.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 405

$1.60 KES 206

-25.00%

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

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

$12.0K KES 1.5M

124.63%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

198.46%

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

$59.2 LKR 19.9K

$44.61 KES 5,764

32.75%

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

$4.43 LKR 1,489

$14.45 KES 1,867

-69.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.60 LKR 4,570

$43.55 KES 5,626

-68.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.09 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,155

$4.71 KES 609

-26.96%

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

$36.86 LKR 12.4K

$87.7 KES 11.3K

-57.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 150.0K

$5,406 KES 698.5K

-91.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.44 LKR 9,218

$13.03 KES 1,684

110.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.33 LKR 6,494

$13.80 KES 1,784

40.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 LKR 23.6K

$23.61 KES 3,050

197.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.50 LKR 12.9K

$45.93 KES 5,934

-16.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 LKR 64.4K

$590 KES 76.3K

-67.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 51.0K

$462 KES 59.7K

-67.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$306 LKR 102.7K

$321 KES 41.5K

-4.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

26.54%

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

Last update for Galle: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mombasa pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Galle vs $19.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $169 per month, with Mombasa cheaper across the board.

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

Galle vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Galle is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Mombasa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.86 in Galle versus $87.7 in Mombasa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Galle – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $19.00 in Mombasa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Galle 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.

Expats usually find Galle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.