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: $490 in Isiolo versus $612 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $806 in Isiolo versus $1,055 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,122 in Isiolo versus $1,499 in Mombasa.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 20% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 KES 694

$2.36 KES 304

127.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 KES 3,874

$19.60 KES 2,532

53.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.85 KES 498

$8.95 KES 1,156

-56.98%

Cappuccino

$2.47 KES 319

$3.25 KES 419

-24.00%

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

$0.26 KES 33.41

$0.49 KES 62.8

-46.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.34

$0.44 KES 56.8

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 293

$1.99 KES 257

14.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 KES 377

$2.84 KES 367

2.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 KES 107

$0.85 KES 110

-2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 KES 53.1

$0.50 KES 64.5

-18.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 KES 206

$1.47 KES 189

8.16%

Eggs

$1.36 KES 175

$1.73 KES 223

-21.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.51 KES 1,488

$9.83 KES 1,271

17.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 KES 855

$6.05 KES 782

9.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.59 KES 722

$5.32 KES 687

5.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 KES 396

$1.86 KES 240

64.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.93 KES 121

15.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 268

$1.52 KES 196

36.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

$0.76 KES 97.6

31.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.71 KES 91.9

50.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 KES 151

$1.03 KES 133

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.0

$0.67 KES 86.7

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 99.0

$0.58 KES 74.5

32.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 KES 407

$3.31 KES 427

-4.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 KES 1,526

$7.51 KES 971

57.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 KES 283

$1.90 KES 246

15.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 KES 352

$2.84 KES 367

-4.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.03 KES 4,526

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

$3.12 KES 403

-50.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.89 KES 244

-16.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 KES 366

$4.68 KES 605

-39.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 KES 188

$1.59 KES 205

-8.81%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

$12.0K KES 1.5M

84.28%

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

$19.9K KES 2.6M

$12.2K KES 1.6M

62.53%

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

$34.77 KES 4,492

$43.73 KES 5,649

-20.49%

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

$16.82 KES 2,173

$14.03 KES 1,813

19.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 KES 5,175

$44.15 KES 5,704

-9.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.31 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 KES 2,483

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 KES 809

$4.60 KES 594

36.09%

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

$202 KES 26.1K

$86.1 KES 11.1K

134.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,189 KES 1.1M

$5,434 KES 702.1K

50.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.58 KES 2,401

$13.02 KES 1,683

42.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.88 KES 3,085

$13.93 KES 1,799

71.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 KES 8,389

$23.26 KES 3,005

179.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.8 KES 7,333

$47.34 KES 6,116

19.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 KES 77.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 KES 58.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,470 KES 706.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,906 KES 504.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 KES 100.4K

$317 KES 41.0K

144.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

14.15%

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

Last update for Isiolo: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 145% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Isiolo vs $20.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $171 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 25% 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 145% 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $490 per month in Isiolo versus $612 in Mombasa – a 25% 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 25% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.