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: $474 in Kiambu versus $696 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Kiambu versus $1,132 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,075 in Kiambu versus $1,567 in Mombasa.

Living in Kiambu costs roughly 32% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kiambu 66% lower, Mombasa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 KES 513

$2.27 KES 294

74.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.24 KES 4,427

$23.41 KES 3,027

46.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 KES 777

$10.46 KES 1,353

-42.54%

Cappuccino

$2.71 KES 350

$3.72 KES 481

-27.15%

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

$0.55 KES 71.3

$0.94 KES 122

-41.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.7

$0.40 KES 51.6

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 296

$2.28 KES 294

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 KES 344

$3.20 KES 414

-16.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 KES 69.6

$0.89 KES 115

-39.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 65.3

$0.53 KES 68.1

-5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 KES 244

$1.58 KES 204

19.62%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$1.73 KES 224

-17.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 KES 1,363

$10.87 KES 1,406

-3.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 814

$5.66 KES 732

11.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 KES 526

$5.33 KES 689

-23.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

$2.11 KES 273

54.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$1.15 KES 149

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.8

$1.75 KES 226

-56.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.0

$0.64 KES 82.7

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 88.4

$0.67 KES 86.3

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 KES 93.9

$1.01 KES 131

-27.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 KES 38.67

$0.60 KES 77.6

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 52.0

$0.42 KES 54.6

-4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 KES 447

$4.59 KES 594

-24.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.74 KES 1,518

$7.86 KES 1,016

49.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.99 KES 257

15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 354

$2.97 KES 384

-7.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 KES 87.6

$0.80 KES 104

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.13 KES 5,059

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 KES 201

$3.04 KES 393

-49.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.15

$1.70 KES 219

-78.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

$4.63 KES 598

-35.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 KES 204

$1.56 KES 202

0.64%

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

65.97%

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

62.03%

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

$60.0 KES 7,754

$54.4 KES 7,029

10.32%

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

$7.74 KES 1,001

$13.01 KES 1,682

-40.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.57 KES 4,599

$33.92 KES 4,386

4.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.29 KES 2,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.68 KES 2,545

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 KES 759

$11.02 KES 1,424

-46.73%

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

$243 KES 31.4K

$88.4 KES 11.4K

174.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$5,445 KES 704.0K

110.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.69 KES 3,451

$13.32 KES 1,722

100.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 KES 3,343

$13.39 KES 1,732

93.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 KES 8,269

$23.00 KES 2,974

178.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 KES 7,882

$46.52 KES 6,015

31.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 KES 15.1K

$234 KES 30.3K

-50.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 KES 69.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 KES 50.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 KES 148.6K

$5,432 KES 702.4K

-78.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,861 KES 499.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 KES 15.8K

$324 KES 41.9K

-62.26%

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 Kiambu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Kiambu and $234 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mombasa pays 165% 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: $34.00 in Kiambu vs $23.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 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

Kiambu vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kiambu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 165% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Kiambu versus $234 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $243 in Kiambu versus $88.4 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 $34.00 versus $23.00 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 47% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.