Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Galle Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Galle

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $618 in Mombasa versus $500 in Galle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,060 in Mombasa versus $888 in Galle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,502 in Mombasa versus $1,277 in Galle.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 24% more expensive than in Galle, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 54% lower, Galle 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 KES 304

$2.94 LKR 987

-20.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 KES 2,478

$25.32 LKR 8,508

-24.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,137

$7.82 LKR 2,628

12.53%

Cappuccino

$3.18 KES 411

$2.74 LKR 920

16.06%

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

$0.48 KES 62.4

$0.73 LKR 245

-34.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.37 LKR 126

29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 KES 253

$2.29 LKR 769

-14.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 364

$2.98 LKR 1,002

-5.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$1.76 LKR 590

-53.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.9

$0.32 LKR 106

53.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 KES 180

$0.80 LKR 269

75.00%

Eggs

$1.79 KES 231

$1.95 LKR 655

-8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 KES 1,255

$14.25 LKR 4,786

-31.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 752

$4.80 LKR 1,612

21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 KES 675

$8.27 LKR 2,777

-36.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$7.48 LKR 2,512

-76.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 KES 117

$0.88 LKR 297

3.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 197

$5.89 LKR 1,978

-74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$1.24 LKR 417

-36.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.5

$1.11 LKR 374

-38.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 139

$1.42 LKR 478

-23.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.4

$1.14 LKR 383

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 78.0

$0.46 LKR 154

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 KES 427

$10.24 LKR 3,440

-67.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,027

$9.18 LKR 3,085

-13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 242

$2.07 LKR 694

-9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

$2.94 LKR 989

-5.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$0.16 LKR 53.9

368.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,532

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

$0.31 LKR 105

883.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 KES 251

$0.33 LKR 110

487.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 KES 592

$0.62 LKR 207

638.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$1.20 LKR 405

33.33%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

-55.48%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-66.49%

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

$44.61 KES 5,764

$59.2 LKR 19.9K

-24.67%

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

$14.45 KES 1,867

$4.43 LKR 1,489

226.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.55 KES 5,626

$13.60 LKR 4,570

220.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.09 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 KES 609

$3.44 LKR 1,155

36.92%

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$36.86 LKR 12.4K

138.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,406 KES 698.5K

$447 LKR 150.0K

1110.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,684

$27.44 LKR 9,218

-52.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.80 KES 1,784

$19.33 LKR 6,494

-28.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,050

$70.3 LKR 23.6K

-66.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.93 KES 5,934

$38.50 LKR 12.9K

19.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 KES 76.3K

$192 LKR 64.4K

208.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 KES 59.7K

$152 LKR 51.0K

204.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

$306 LKR 102.7K

5.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-20.97%

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

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Galle: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mombasa pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mombasa vs $25.00 in Galle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $246 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

Mombasa vs Galle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Galle is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Mombasa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $87.7 in Mombasa versus $36.86 in Galle. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Galle – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $19.00 in Mombasa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Galle gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Galle is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mombasa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Galle 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.