Cost of Living Comparison Between Molo and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Molo and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $506 in Molo versus $614 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Molo versus $1,068 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,216 in Molo versus $1,523 in Mombasa.

Living in Molo costs roughly 18% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Molo 62% lower, Mombasa 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 KES 691

$2.33 KES 301

129.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.63 KES 4,993

$19.28 KES 2,491

100.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 KES 889

$8.94 KES 1,155

-23.04%

Cappuccino

$2.37 KES 306

$3.25 KES 419

-27.08%

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

$0.72 KES 92.9

$0.48 KES 61.8

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 64.8

$0.45 KES 57.9

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 KES 307

$1.97 KES 255

20.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

$2.91 KES 376

-2.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.83 KES 107

3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 KES 73.5

$0.54 KES 69.8

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.41 KES 182

11.35%

Eggs

$1.65 KES 213

$1.82 KES 235

-9.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 KES 1,475

$9.91 KES 1,280

15.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 KES 882

$5.87 KES 758

16.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 KES 715

$5.24 KES 677

5.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 KES 393

$1.82 KES 235

67.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.87 KES 112

19.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 KES 282

$1.52 KES 197

43.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.76 KES 98.1

38.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

$0.66 KES 85.8

54.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 KES 152

$1.07 KES 138

9.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.3

$0.63 KES 81.0

7.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.62 KES 79.9

32.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

$3.32 KES 429

-4.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 KES 1,491

$7.79 KES 1,006

48.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 KES 293

$1.95 KES 252

16.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 359

$2.77 KES 358

0.36%

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)

$1.53 KES 198

$3.16 KES 408

-51.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.90 KES 246

-17.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 381

$4.55 KES 588

-35.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.63 KES 211

-6.13%

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

$21.6K KES 2.8M

$11.9K KES 1.5M

82.17%

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

$19.7K KES 2.6M

$11.8K KES 1.5M

67.30%

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

$33.79 KES 4,366

$44.31 KES 5,727

-23.74%

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

$17.03 KES 2,201

$14.23 KES 1,839

19.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.64 KES 4,993

$44.18 KES 5,709

-12.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.34 KES 2,370

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.55 KES 2,526

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 KES 802

$4.59 KES 593

35.29%

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

$202 KES 26.2K

$85.7 KES 11.1K

136.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,979 KES 1.0M

$5,452 KES 704.5K

46.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.34 KES 2,371

$13.12 KES 1,695

39.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.57 KES 3,046

$13.86 KES 1,791

70.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 KES 8,540

$23.60 KES 3,049

180.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 KES 7,297

$46.61 KES 6,023

21.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 KES 23.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 KES 77.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 KES 58.8K

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)

$388 KES 50.2K

$319 KES 41.3K

21.48%

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 Molo: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo pays 21% 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 Molo vs $19.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 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

Molo vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Molo is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Molo pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Mombasa pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $506 per month in Molo versus $614 in Mombasa – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Molo 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 Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.