Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisii and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisii and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $309 in Kisii versus $696 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $442 in Kisii versus $1,132 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $576 in Kisii versus $1,567 in Mombasa.

Living in Kisii costs roughly 56% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kisii 78% lower, Mombasa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.67 KES 345

$2.27 KES 294

17.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.41 KES 3,028

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 KES 1,354

Cappuccino

$1.40 KES 181

$3.72 KES 481

-62.37%

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

$0.82 KES 105

$0.94 KES 122

-12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.43

$0.40 KES 51.6

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 KES 236

$2.28 KES 294

-19.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 302

$3.20 KES 414

-26.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.89 KES 115

-1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 62.1

$0.53 KES 68.1

-9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 KES 302

$1.58 KES 204

48.10%

Eggs

$1.83 KES 236

$1.73 KES 224

5.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 KES 1,407

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 KES 732

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 KES 590

$5.33 KES 689

-14.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 KES 273

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 KES 149

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KES 226

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.4

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 KES 131

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 KES 77.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 KES 594

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 KES 1,017

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 253

$1.99 KES 257

-1.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 384

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 KES 52.8

$0.80 KES 104

-48.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.66 KES 2,026

$39.13 KES 5,061

-59.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$3.04 KES 394

-75.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 220

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 KES 598

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 201

$1.56 KES 202

-0.64%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$11.4K KES 1.5M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

-5.84%

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

$54.4 KES 7,032

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

$16.47 KES 2,131

$13.01 KES 1,683

26.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.35 KES 6,383

$33.92 KES 4,388

45.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.29 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.68 KES 2,546

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 KES 1,425

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

$38.45 KES 4,973

$88.4 KES 11.4K

-56.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,445 KES 704.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.39 KES 1,473

$13.32 KES 1,722

-14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.39 KES 1,732

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.25 KES 5,076

$23.00 KES 2,975

70.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.78 KES 3,981

$46.52 KES 6,017

-33.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 KES 30.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.2 KES 10.1K

$154 KES 19.9K

-49.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 KES 69.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 KES 20.3K

$393 KES 50.8K

-60.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,432 KES 702.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,861 KES 499.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 KES 41.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kisii: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: September 5, 2026

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

Kisii vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $464 in Kisii and $1,044 in Mombasa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 226% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $309 per month in Kisii versus $696 in Mombasa – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kisii 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 Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.