Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $443 in Machakos versus $605 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Machakos versus $1,067 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,065 in Machakos versus $1,528 in Mombasa.

Living in Machakos costs roughly 27% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 67% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 303

$2.39 KES 310

-2.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.41 KES 4,980

$19.38 KES 2,513

98.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 KES 893

$8.75 KES 1,135

-21.26%

Cappuccino

$1.95 KES 252

$3.14 KES 408

-37.90%

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

$0.69 KES 90.1

$0.51 KES 66.7

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.7

$0.47 KES 61.0

8.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 KES 243

$1.90 KES 246

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 359

$2.98 KES 387

-7.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.40 KES 52.4

$0.83 KES 107

-51.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 56.9

$0.53 KES 69.2

-16.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$1.42 KES 184

-46.48%

Eggs

$1.36 KES 176

$1.80 KES 233

-24.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 KES 1,490

$9.78 KES 1,268

17.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 KES 878

$5.96 KES 773

13.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 KES 615

$5.40 KES 701

-12.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.86 KES 241

-17.74%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 KES 96.9

$0.87 KES 113

-13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.26

$1.57 KES 204

-76.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 KES 49.23

$0.78 KES 101

-51.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.72 KES 93.3

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.08 KES 140

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.7

$0.62 KES 80.7

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 KES 48.81

$0.58 KES 75.1

-34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 KES 404

$3.44 KES 447

-9.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.55 KES 1,498

$7.75 KES 1,004

49.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

$1.96 KES 254

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

$2.77 KES 359

-0.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.22 KES 4,566

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 KES 95.2

$3.07 KES 398

-76.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 103

$1.95 KES 253

-58.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 384

$4.52 KES 586

-34.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 KES 196

$1.65 KES 213

-8.48%

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

$22.0K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

81.27%

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

$12.0K KES 1.6M

64.15%

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

$34.62 KES 4,489

$45.06 KES 5,842

-23.17%

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

$7.56 KES 980

$14.19 KES 1,840

-46.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.64 KES 1,510

$43.51 KES 5,641

-73.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.24 KES 2,494

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 KES 813

$4.65 KES 604

34.84%

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

$46.87 KES 6,077

$85.5 KES 11.1K

-45.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,961 KES 1.0M

$5,329 KES 691.0K

49.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.72 KES 1,520

$13.41 KES 1,739

-12.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,091

$13.57 KES 1,760

75.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.5 KES 8,497

$22.90 KES 2,970

186.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 KES 4,962

$47.05 KES 6,101

-18.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$93.1 KES 12.1K

$177 KES 23.0K

-47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 KES 8,910

$114 KES 14.8K

-39.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 KES 19.7K

$593 KES 76.9K

-74.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

$460 KES 59.6K

-74.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,473 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,912 KES 507.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 KES 50.9K

$319 KES 41.3K

23.24%

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 Machakos: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $93.1 in Machakos and $177 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machakos pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Machakos vs $19.00 in Mombasa. Groceries flip the comparison at $165 vs $171, with Machakos cheaper for home cooking.

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

Machakos vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Machakos pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $93.1 in Machakos versus $177 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $443 per month in Machakos versus $605 in Mombasa – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Machakos 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.

Safety-wise, Machakos and Mombasa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Machakos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.