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: $604 in Mombasa versus $499 in Galle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Mombasa versus $896 in Galle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Mombasa versus $1,294 in Galle.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 21% more expensive than Galle, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 55% lower, Galle 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 308

$2.98 LKR 987

-20.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 KES 2,498

$25.15 LKR 8,338

-23.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,106

$8.01 LKR 2,656

6.49%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 421

$2.61 LKR 866

24.52%

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

$0.51 KES 66.3

$0.73 LKR 242

-30.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.2

$0.41 LKR 135

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$2.37 LKR 786

-19.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 KES 380

$2.95 LKR 979

-0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.70 LKR 563

-52.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.3

$0.32 LKR 105

65.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$0.81 LKR 269

77.78%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$1.91 LKR 635

-9.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 KES 1,291

$14.27 LKR 4,730

-30.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 754

$4.65 LKR 1,541

25.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 679

$8.15 LKR 2,704

-35.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$7.40 LKR 2,455

-75.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$0.88 LKR 292

5.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$5.68 LKR 1,883

-72.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$1.20 LKR 399

-36.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

$1.10 LKR 365

-35.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$1.41 LKR 468

-25.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.9

$1.14 LKR 377

-41.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 74.0

$0.42 LKR 139

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 430

$10.13 LKR 3,360

-67.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,023

$8.86 LKR 2,939

-10.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 252

$2.04 LKR 675

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

$2.83 LKR 938

-3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

$0.15 LKR 50.6

426.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 391

$0.35 LKR 115

762.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

$0.35 LKR 116

457.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 597

$0.57 LKR 188

708.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 208

$1.21 LKR 402

32.23%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-54.86%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$34.9K LKR 11.6M

-66.20%

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

$44.87 KES 5,813

$59.1 LKR 19.6K

-24.04%

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

$14.07 KES 1,822

$4.39 LKR 1,456

220.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 KES 5,715

$13.26 LKR 4,398

232.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,356

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 589

$3.37 LKR 1,118

35.01%

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

$36.67 LKR 12.2K

138.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 689.9K

$446 LKR 147.8K

1094.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,734

$27.69 LKR 9,182

-51.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,792

$19.46 LKR 6,452

-28.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,059

$68.1 LKR 22.6K

-65.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,126

$39.15 LKR 13.0K

20.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 KES 78.4K

$196 LKR 64.9K

208.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.2K

$151 LKR 50.0K

208.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 699.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.2K

$306 LKR 101.5K

3.73%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Galle: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mombasa pays 4% 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 $170 vs $242 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Mombasa pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $87.3 in Mombasa versus $36.67 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 21% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.