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: $544 in Molo versus $674 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $882 in Molo versus $1,121 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,220 in Molo versus $1,569 in Mombasa.

Living in Molo costs roughly 19% less than in Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Molo 60% lower, Mombasa 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 KES 589

$2.27 KES 294

100.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.29 KES 4,566

$23.05 KES 2,982

53.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 KES 781

$10.29 KES 1,332

-41.40%

Cappuccino

$2.75 KES 356

$3.69 KES 478

-25.47%

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

$0.58 KES 75.6

$1.01 KES 131

-42.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 KES 82.5

$0.43 KES 55.0

48.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 293

$2.37 KES 306

-4.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 KES 343

$3.27 KES 423

-18.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 KES 74.4

$0.50 KES 64.6

16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

$1.56 KES 202

19.23%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

$1.75 KES 227

-2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 KES 1,380

$11.04 KES 1,429

-3.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 KES 819

$5.50 KES 712

15.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 KES 791

$5.31 KES 687

15.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 KES 428

$2.17 KES 281

52.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$1.19 KES 154

-10.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 KES 267

$1.85 KES 239

11.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$0.64 KES 82.4

76.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 KES 148

$0.67 KES 87.1

70.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$1.05 KES 136

3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$0.56 KES 72.8

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 95.8

$0.43 KES 55.3

72.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 445

$4.55 KES 589

-24.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 KES 1,503

$7.52 KES 973

54.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 KES 300

$1.92 KES 248

20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 354

$2.81 KES 364

-2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.16 KES 4,938

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 KES 197

$3.12 KES 404

-51.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.79 KES 232

-15.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 KES 378

$4.73 KES 612

-38.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 KES 204

$1.55 KES 200

1.29%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

$12.1K KES 1.6M

79.81%

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

$20.5K KES 2.7M

$11.7K KES 1.5M

74.53%

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

$62.5 KES 8,082

$56.0 KES 7,246

11.56%

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

$15.75 KES 2,038

$13.27 KES 1,717

18.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.67 KES 4,616

$33.64 KES 4,352

6.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.32 KES 2,371

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.23 KES 2,488

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 KES 1,022

$10.61 KES 1,373

-25.54%

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

$246 KES 31.8K

$87.8 KES 11.4K

180.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K KES 1.5M

$5,364 KES 694.0K

113.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.81 KES 3,599

$13.27 KES 1,717

109.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.43 KES 3,679

$13.59 KES 1,758

109.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 KES 8,909

$23.09 KES 2,987

198.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 KES 7,498

$46.00 KES 5,953

25.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 KES 29.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 KES 71.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 KES 51.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,493 KES 710.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,917 KES 506.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$386 KES 49.9K

$315 KES 40.8K

22.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

13.15%

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

Last update for Molo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: September 13, 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: $35.00 in Molo vs $23.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $175 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Molo, 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $544 per month in Molo versus $674 in Mombasa – a 24% 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 24% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.