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: $516 in Molo versus $605 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Molo versus $1,067 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,178 in Molo versus $1,528 in Mombasa.

Living in Molo costs roughly 15% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Molo 62% lower, Mombasa 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 KES 696

$2.39 KES 310

124.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.20 KES 4,953

$19.38 KES 2,513

97.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 KES 866

$8.75 KES 1,135

-23.66%

Cappuccino

$2.43 KES 316

$3.14 KES 408

-22.61%

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

$0.72 KES 93.3

$0.51 KES 66.7

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 64.7

$0.47 KES 61.0

6.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 KES 310

$1.90 KES 246

25.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 371

$2.98 KES 387

-4.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.83 KES 107

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.5

$0.53 KES 69.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 213

$1.42 KES 184

15.49%

Eggs

$1.68 KES 218

$1.80 KES 233

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 KES 1,504

$9.78 KES 1,268

18.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KES 866

$5.96 KES 773

12.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.77 KES 749

$5.40 KES 701

6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 KES 397

$1.86 KES 241

64.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.87 KES 113

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 KES 273

$1.57 KES 204

33.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

$0.78 KES 101

30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.72 KES 93.3

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KES 144

$1.08 KES 140

2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 83.0

$0.62 KES 80.7

3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.9

$0.58 KES 75.1

29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 KES 392

$3.44 KES 447

-12.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 KES 1,486

$7.75 KES 1,004

47.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 KES 283

$1.96 KES 254

11.22%

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)

$1.58 KES 205

$3.07 KES 398

-48.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.95 KES 253

-18.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 KES 378

$4.52 KES 586

-35.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 203

$1.65 KES 213

-5.45%

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

$21.3K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

75.90%

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

$19.7K KES 2.6M

$12.0K KES 1.6M

64.69%

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

$34.50 KES 4,474

$45.06 KES 5,842

-23.44%

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

$16.63 KES 2,156

$14.19 KES 1,840

17.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.70 KES 5,018

$43.51 KES 5,641

-11.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.24 KES 2,494

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 KES 826

$4.65 KES 604

36.99%

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

$206 KES 26.8K

$85.5 KES 11.1K

141.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,045 KES 1.0M

$5,329 KES 691.0K

50.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.33 KES 2,376

$13.41 KES 1,739

36.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.45 KES 3,170

$13.57 KES 1,760

80.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 KES 8,625

$22.90 KES 2,970

190.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,205

$47.05 KES 6,101

18.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 KES 76.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 KES 59.6K

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)

$388 KES 50.3K

$319 KES 41.3K

21.86%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo 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: $38.00 in Molo vs $19.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $171 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Molo 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.

Shoppers in Mombasa pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $516 per month in Molo versus $605 in Mombasa – a 17% 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 17% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.