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: $509 in Molo versus $619 in Mombasa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $843 in Molo versus $1,079 in Mombasa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,176 in Molo versus $1,539 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 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 KES 713

$2.34 KES 302

135.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.20 KES 5,067

$19.58 KES 2,531

100.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 KES 888

$8.87 KES 1,146

-22.55%

Cappuccino

$2.45 KES 316

$3.30 KES 426

-25.76%

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

$0.72 KES 92.7

$0.52 KES 66.8

38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.5

$0.48 KES 61.5

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

$1.87 KES 242

21.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 370

$2.89 KES 373

-0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 KES 119

$0.82 KES 105

12.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 KES 73.8

$0.54 KES 70.3

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 KES 206

$1.44 KES 186

10.42%

Eggs

$1.68 KES 217

$1.75 KES 226

-4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 KES 1,490

$10.05 KES 1,299

14.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 KES 885

$6.01 KES 777

13.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 KES 706

$5.21 KES 673

4.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 KES 406

$1.81 KES 234

73.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.86 KES 111

24.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 KES 276

$1.53 KES 198

39.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.73 KES 94.8

45.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 KES 133

$0.72 KES 92.9

43.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 KES 145

$1.07 KES 138

4.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 83.4

$0.62 KES 80.5

4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 KES 105

$0.58 KES 75.0

39.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 393

$3.44 KES 445

-11.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 KES 1,514

$7.94 KES 1,026

47.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 287

$1.96 KES 254

13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 KES 346

$2.84 KES 367

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 96.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.00 KES 4,524

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 KES 194

$3.11 KES 402

-51.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.87 KES 242

-19.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 KES 366

$4.61 KES 596

-38.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 KES 206

$1.60 KES 206

-0.63%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

$12.2K KES 1.6M

77.75%

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

$12.2K KES 1.6M

65.48%

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

$34.40 KES 4,447

$44.01 KES 5,688

-21.84%

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

$17.11 KES 2,211

$14.12 KES 1,825

21.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.29 KES 5,078

$44.43 KES 5,743

-11.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.28 KES 2,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.64 KES 2,538

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 KES 812

$4.59 KES 593

36.82%

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

$202 KES 26.1K

$86.0 KES 11.1K

134.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,932 KES 1.0M

$5,470 KES 707.0K

45.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,363

$13.40 KES 1,732

36.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.43 KES 3,157

$13.87 KES 1,792

76.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 KES 8,560

$23.46 KES 3,032

182.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.0 KES 7,361

$46.74 KES 6,041

21.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 KES 76.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 KES 57.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,454 KES 704.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,880 KES 501.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$390 KES 50.4K

$314 KES 40.5K

24.43%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo pays 24% 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 $20.00 in Mombasa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% 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 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $509 per month in Molo versus $619 in Mombasa – a 22% 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 22% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.