Cost of Living Comparison Between Kiambu and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kiambu and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $486 in Kiambu versus $604 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Kiambu versus $1,064 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,014 in Kiambu versus $1,525 in Mombasa.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Kiambu 64% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 KES 410

$2.37 KES 308

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.55 KES 2,533

$19.29 KES 2,498

1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 KES 589

$8.53 KES 1,106

-46.66%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 247

$3.25 KES 421

-41.23%

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

$0.54 KES 70.2

$0.51 KES 66.3

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KES 43.48

$0.47 KES 61.2

-27.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 KES 228

$1.90 KES 246

-7.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 KES 293

$2.93 KES 380

-22.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 KES 88.3

$0.81 KES 104

-16.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.1

$0.53 KES 69.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KES 216

$1.44 KES 187

15.28%

Eggs

$1.36 KES 176

$1.73 KES 223

-21.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,522

$9.96 KES 1,291

17.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 KES 848

$5.82 KES 754

12.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 KES 537

$5.24 KES 679

-20.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 KES 394

$1.81 KES 234

67.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.93 KES 121

17.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 KES 102

$1.56 KES 202

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 72.7

$0.76 KES 98.2

-26.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 KES 70.7

$0.71 KES 92.4

-22.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.5

$1.05 KES 136

-27.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 KES 41.56

$0.67 KES 86.9

-52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 52.0

$0.57 KES 74.0

-29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 390

$3.32 KES 430

-9.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 KES 1,481

$7.90 KES 1,023

44.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 KES 284

$1.94 KES 252

12.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 362

$2.73 KES 354

2.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 KES 72.1

$0.79 KES 103

-29.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 207

$3.02 KES 391

-47.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.56

$1.95 KES 252

-81.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 KES 369

$4.61 KES 597

-38.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.60 KES 208

-4.38%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

81.21%

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

$19.7K KES 2.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

67.41%

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

$28.59 KES 3,704

$44.87 KES 5,813

-36.28%

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

$7.60 KES 984

$14.07 KES 1,822

-45.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.32 KES 3,799

$44.11 KES 5,715

-33.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.59 KES 1,502

$18.18 KES 2,356

-36.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 KES 731

$4.55 KES 589

23.96%

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

$204 KES 26.5K

$87.3 KES 11.3K

134.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,097 KES 1.0M

$5,325 KES 689.9K

52.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.24 KES 808

$13.39 KES 1,734

-53.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,088

$13.83 KES 1,792

72.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.40 KES 3,550

$23.61 KES 3,059

16.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.38 KES 3,936

$47.29 KES 6,126

-35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

$178 KES 23.0K

-35.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.7 KES 12.0K

$115 KES 14.9K

-19.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 KES 24.8K

$605 KES 78.4K

-68.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 KES 18.9K

$465 KES 60.2K

-68.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,137 KES 147.2K

$5,402 KES 699.9K

-78.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 KES 15.8K

$318 KES 41.2K

-61.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-15.38%

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

Last update for Kiambu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Kiambu and $178 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mombasa pays 160% 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: $20.00 in Kiambu vs $19.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 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

Kiambu vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Mombasa earns 160% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $115 in Kiambu versus $178 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $204 in Kiambu versus $87.3 in Mombasa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kiambu – a meal for two runs $20.00 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 Kiambu 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 Kiambu 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.