Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $514 in Isiolo versus $689 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $840 in Isiolo versus $1,111 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Isiolo versus $1,534 in Mombasa.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 25% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Isiolo 63% lower, Mombasa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 510

$2.30 KES 298

71.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.21 KES 4,555

$23.05 KES 2,982

52.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 KES 814

$10.61 KES 1,373

-40.72%

Cappuccino

$2.73 KES 354

$3.60 KES 466

-24.17%

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

$0.56 KES 72.1

$1.00 KES 130

-44.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 KES 71.4

$0.42 KES 54.8

30.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 KES 298

$2.26 KES 292

1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 357

$3.22 KES 417

-14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 110

$0.94 KES 121

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.9

$0.49 KES 63.8

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 KES 239

$1.58 KES 204

17.09%

Eggs

$1.72 KES 222

$1.82 KES 235

-5.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 KES 1,323

$10.94 KES 1,416

-6.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 KES 799

$5.44 KES 704

13.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.33 KES 819

$5.34 KES 691

18.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 KES 423

$2.10 KES 271

55.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$1.15 KES 148

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 KES 264

$1.79 KES 231

13.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 KES 145

$0.65 KES 84.1

72.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.72 KES 93.7

51.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 KES 93.4

$0.57 KES 73.4

26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 99.6

$0.46 KES 59.4

67.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 KES 461

$4.51 KES 583

-20.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 KES 1,482

$7.61 KES 985

50.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 KES 299

$2.00 KES 258

15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

$2.88 KES 372

-4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.00 KES 4,916

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 201

$3.01 KES 389

-48.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.71 KES 222

-8.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 380

$4.54 KES 587

-35.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.56 KES 202

-12.18%

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

$20.6K KES 2.7M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

70.72%

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

68.05%

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

$61.9 KES 8,002

$55.1 KES 7,127

12.27%

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

$15.31 KES 1,981

$13.42 KES 1,736

14.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.94 KES 4,520

$33.92 KES 4,388

3.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.20 KES 2,355

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,452

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 KES 982

$11.00 KES 1,423

-31.00%

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

$236 KES 30.6K

$87.7 KES 11.3K

169.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$5,514 KES 713.4K

108.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.78 KES 3,464

$13.03 KES 1,686

105.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.71 KES 3,327

$13.50 KES 1,746

90.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 KES 8,239

$23.12 KES 2,991

175.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 KES 7,663

$45.53 KES 5,890

30.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 KES 69.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 KES 50.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,396 KES 698.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,931 KES 508.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 KES 98.6K

$321 KES 41.5K

137.82%

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 Isiolo: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 138% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Isiolo vs $23.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $175 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

Isiolo vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 138% higher in Isiolo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Mombasa pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $514 per month in Isiolo versus $689 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 Isiolo 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 Isiolo 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.