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: $501 in Isiolo versus $604 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Isiolo versus $1,064 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,134 in Isiolo versus $1,525 in Mombasa.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 17% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Isiolo 63% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 KES 713

$2.37 KES 307

132.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.58 KES 3,955

$19.29 KES 2,494

58.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 KES 505

$8.53 KES 1,104

-54.28%

Cappuccino

$2.35 KES 304

$3.25 KES 420

-27.69%

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

$0.28 KES 36.52

$0.51 KES 66.2

-45.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.31

$0.47 KES 61.1

-53.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 KES 291

$1.90 KES 245

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 370

$2.93 KES 379

-2.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.81 KES 104

6.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 KES 57.8

$0.53 KES 69.2

-15.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KES 214

$1.44 KES 187

14.58%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$1.73 KES 223

-17.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,518

$9.96 KES 1,289

17.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 KES 865

$5.82 KES 753

14.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 KES 715

$5.24 KES 677

5.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 KES 399

$1.81 KES 234

70.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.93 KES 121

12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$1.56 KES 202

39.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.76 KES 98.0

39.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.71 KES 92.2

50.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$1.05 KES 135

7.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.8

$0.67 KES 86.8

2.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$0.57 KES 73.9

31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 393

$3.32 KES 429

-8.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 KES 1,504

$7.90 KES 1,021

47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 KES 284

$1.94 KES 251

13.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,538

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 KES 195

$3.02 KES 390

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.95 KES 252

-22.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

$4.61 KES 596

-37.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 KES 182

$1.60 KES 207

-12.50%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

79.86%

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

71.61%

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

$35.01 KES 4,527

$44.87 KES 5,803

-21.97%

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

$16.69 KES 2,158

$14.07 KES 1,819

18.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.05 KES 5,050

$44.11 KES 5,705

-11.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,451

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 KES 789

$4.55 KES 588

34.07%

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

$203 KES 26.2K

$87.3 KES 11.3K

132.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,151 KES 1.1M

$5,325 KES 688.7K

53.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.05 KES 2,334

$13.39 KES 1,731

34.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.24 KES 3,135

$13.83 KES 1,789

75.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 KES 8,295

$23.61 KES 3,053

171.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 KES 7,305

$47.29 KES 6,115

19.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 KES 78.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 698.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 496.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 KES 100.4K

$318 KES 41.1K

144.35%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 144% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Isiolo vs $19.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $170 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 21% 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.

Isiolo pays 144% more on average, 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 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $501 per month in Isiolo versus $604 in Mombasa – a 21% 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 21% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.