Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Bungoma

For one person, living is cheaper in Bungoma: $144 a month against $715 in Mombasa, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Mombasa
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Mombasa Living Index

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Mombasa

🇰🇪 Kenya

$715

/mo nomad

Bungoma

🇰🇪 Kenya

$144

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mombasa and in Bungoma

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mombasa and in Bungoma actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Mombasa versus $144 in Bungoma.

Mombasa $715
Bungoma $144

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,138 in Mombasa versus $290 in Bungoma.

Mombasa $1,138
Bungoma $290

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,560 in Mombasa versus $436 in Bungoma.

Mombasa $1,560
Bungoma $436

Living in Mombasa is roughly 397% more expensive than in Bungoma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 47% lower, Bungoma 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 KES 342

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 KES 3,201

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 KES 1,364

Cappuccino

$2.71 KES 351

$5.49 KES 712

-50.64%

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

$0.74 KES 95.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 KES 303

$1.57 KES 204

48.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 KES 423

$1.68 KES 218

94.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 KES 119

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

Eggs

$1.82 KES 236

$1.24 KES 161

46.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.98 KES 1,814

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 KES 635

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 KES 682

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 KES 280

$3.17 KES 411

-31.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 KES 148

$0.97 KES 125

17.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 KES 239

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 88.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KES 77.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 55.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 KES 515

Wine (Bottle)

$9.51 KES 1,234

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

$1.57 KES 204

26.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 KES 382

$1.68 KES 218

75.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 KES 105

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.41 KES 4,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 KES 410

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 221

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 598

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 199

$1.40 KES 182

9.29%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$76.8 KES 9,962

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

$9.07 KES 1,177

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.36 KES 4,460

$29.15 KES 3,783

17.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.66 KES 2,292

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.32 KES 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 KES 1,980

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

$86.7 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,484 KES 711.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.89 KES 1,673

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.50 KES 1,752

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.07 KES 2,995

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.74 KES 6,067

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 KES 20.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 KES 69.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 KES 47.7K

$169 KES 21.9K

117.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,457 KES 708.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,881 KES 503.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 KES 41.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Mombasa

$185 25.8%

Bungoma

–

Accommodation & Living

Mombasa

$157 22%

Bungoma

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mombasa

$120 16.8%

Bungoma

–

Eating Out

Mombasa

$108 15.1%

Bungoma

–

Getting Around

Mombasa

$53 7.5%

Bungoma

–

Sport & Entertainment

Mombasa

$48 6.7%

Bungoma

–

Clothing & Footwear

Mombasa

$43 6.1%

Bungoma

–

Good to know

🇰🇪 Mombasa

🇰🇪 Bungoma

🕒 Local time

19:49 7:49 PM

Same time as Mombasa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,300,000

60,000

💱 Currency

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KES = 7.7 USD

1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.7 USD

1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Mombasa Bungoma 770 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mombasa
Bungoma

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Mombasa vs Bungoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is about 80% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $1,073 in Mombasa and $216 in Bungoma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 389% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you’ll spend $715 per month in Mombasa versus $144 in Bungoma – Bungoma is about 80% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bungoma 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.