Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Eldoret Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Eldoret

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Mombasa versus $503 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,048 in Mombasa versus $869 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,420 in Mombasa versus $1,234 in Eldoret.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 34% more expensive than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 51% lower, Eldoret 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.66 KES 345

$1.51 KES 195

76.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 KES 2,949

$34.72 KES 4,493

-34.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 KES 1,356

$6.02 KES 779

74.09%

Cappuccino

$2.47 KES 320

$2.75 KES 355

-10.18%

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

$0.71 KES 92.1

$0.30 KES 38.82

136.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.6

$0.41 KES 52.9

2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 KES 304

$2.39 KES 309

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 KES 410

$2.69 KES 348

17.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.68 KES 87.5

38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 65.3

$0.50 KES 64.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 KES 196

$1.55 KES 200

-2.58%

Eggs

$1.83 KES 237

$1.57 KES 203

16.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 KES 1,312

$3.88 KES 502

161.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 KES 736

$4.23 KES 548

34.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 KES 670

$4.23 KES 548

22.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

$2.37 KES 307

-21.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 KES 110

$1.00 KES 129

-15.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$0.67 KES 86.4

167.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.7

$0.92 KES 119

-23.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.3

$0.55 KES 71.4

21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.48 KES 61.6

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 KES 78.9

$0.70 KES 90.9

-12.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KES 63.8

$0.66 KES 84.8

-25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 KES 511

$3.57 KES 461

10.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 KES 1,009

$5.97 KES 773

30.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 243

$2.04 KES 263

-7.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 357

$1.51 KES 195

82.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

$1.35 KES 174

-41.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.72 KES 5,011

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 KES 403

$1.53 KES 197

103.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 221

$1.52 KES 197

11.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 KES 606

$2.97 KES 384

57.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 197

$1.53 KES 198

-0.65%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$18.8K KES 2.4M

-35.04%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$19.2K KES 2.5M

-37.65%

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

$55.6 KES 7,191

$39.96 KES 5,171

39.06%

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

$13.37 KES 1,730

$15.34 KES 1,985

-12.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.66 KES 4,355

$34.18 KES 4,423

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.10 KES 2,343

$39.07 KES 5,055

-53.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.97 KES 2,454

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 KES 1,394

$5.13 KES 664

110.14%

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

$87.8 KES 11.4K

$63.1 KES 8,166

39.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,485 KES 709.7K

$10.9K KES 1.4M

-49.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.38 KES 1,731

$11.53 KES 1,492

16.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.60 KES 1,760

$24.72 KES 3,199

-44.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.81 KES 2,951

$19.65 KES 2,542

16.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.84 KES 5,931

$35.15 KES 4,549

30.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 KES 24.8K

$93.4 KES 12.1K

105.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

$87.8 KES 11.4K

75.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 KES 62.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 KES 40.0K

$276 KES 35.7K

11.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,467 KES 707.4K

$608 KES 78.7K

799.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,798 KES 491.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

-11.62%

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

Last update for Mombasa: August 18, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Mombasa and $93.4 in Eldoret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mombasa vs $35.00 in Eldoret. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $133, with Eldoret cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eldoret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,014 in Mombasa and $755 in Eldoret 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $192 in Mombasa versus $93.4 in Eldoret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Mombasa versus $503 in Eldoret – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Eldoret 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 Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.