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: $453 in Machakos versus $614 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in Machakos versus $1,068 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,051 in Machakos versus $1,523 in Mombasa.

Living in Machakos costs roughly 26% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 66% lower, Mombasa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 303

$2.33 KES 301

0.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.88 KES 5,024

$19.28 KES 2,491

101.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 KES 885

$8.94 KES 1,155

-23.38%

Cappuccino

$1.99 KES 257

$3.25 KES 419

-38.77%

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

$0.74 KES 95.8

$0.48 KES 61.8

54.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.45 KES 57.9

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 KES 247

$1.97 KES 255

-3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 KES 349

$2.91 KES 376

-7.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.38 KES 48.77

$0.83 KES 107

-54.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 KES 57.9

$0.54 KES 69.8

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.41 KES 182

-42.55%

Eggs

$1.35 KES 175

$1.82 KES 235

-25.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 KES 1,506

$9.91 KES 1,280

17.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 KES 865

$5.87 KES 758

13.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.57 KES 591

$5.24 KES 677

-12.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.82 KES 235

-15.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.7

$0.87 KES 112

-16.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 KES 52.5

$1.52 KES 197

-73.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.44

$0.76 KES 98.1

-51.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.66 KES 85.8

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 KES 97.5

$1.07 KES 138

-29.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.1

$0.63 KES 81.0

3.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 KES 52.9

$0.62 KES 79.9

-33.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 389

$3.32 KES 429

-9.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 KES 1,514

$7.79 KES 1,006

50.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 255

$1.95 KES 252

1.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

$2.77 KES 358

-1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 94.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.27 KES 4,428

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 KES 97.2

$3.16 KES 408

-76.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 104

$1.90 KES 246

-57.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

$4.55 KES 588

-34.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 KES 187

$1.63 KES 211

-11.04%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

$11.9K KES 1.5M

84.71%

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

70.99%

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

$33.86 KES 4,375

$44.31 KES 5,727

-23.58%

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

$7.93 KES 1,024

$14.23 KES 1,839

-44.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.71 KES 1,513

$44.18 KES 5,709

-73.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.34 KES 2,370

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.55 KES 2,526

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 KES 782

$4.59 KES 593

31.81%

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

$45.51 KES 5,881

$85.7 KES 11.1K

-46.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,077 KES 1.0M

$5,452 KES 704.5K

48.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.55 KES 1,493

$13.12 KES 1,695

-11.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.37 KES 3,149

$13.86 KES 1,791

75.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,581

$23.60 KES 3,049

181.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.37 KES 4,958

$46.61 KES 6,023

-17.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 KES 11.9K

$179 KES 23.2K

-48.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 KES 9,032

$114 KES 14.7K

-38.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

$597 KES 77.1K

-74.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

$455 KES 58.8K

-74.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,498 KES 710.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,826 KES 494.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$389 KES 50.3K

$319 KES 41.3K

21.73%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $92.4 in Machakos and $179 in Mombasa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machakos pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Machakos vs $19.00 in Mombasa. Groceries flip the comparison at $165 vs $170, 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 35% 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 22% 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: $92.4 in Machakos versus $179 in Mombasa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $453 per month in Machakos versus $614 in Mombasa – a 35% 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 35% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.