Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Homa Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Homa Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $676 per month in Mombasa vs $58.7 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,048 per month in Mombasa vs $453 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,420 per month in Mombasa vs $848 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 1053% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mombasa and Homa Bay are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 51% lower, Homa Bay 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.66 KES 345

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 KES 2,949

$148 KES 19.1K

-84.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 KES 1,356

$10.50 KES 1,359

-0.19%

Cappuccino

$2.47 KES 320

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

$0.71 KES 92.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.6

$1.03 KES 133

-59.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 KES 304

$2.48 KES 321

-5.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 KES 410

$5.14 KES 665

-38.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 65.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 KES 196

Eggs

$1.83 KES 237

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 KES 1,312

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 KES 736

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.18 KES 670

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 KES 110

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.3

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 KES 78.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KES 63.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 KES 511

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 KES 1,009

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 243

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 357

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.72 KES 5,011

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 KES 403

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 221

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 KES 606

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 197

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)

$12.0K KES 1.5M

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

$55.6 KES 7,191

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

$13.37 KES 1,730

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.66 KES 4,355

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.10 KES 2,343

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.97 KES 2,454

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 KES 1,394

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

$87.8 KES 11.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,485 KES 709.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.38 KES 1,731

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.60 KES 1,760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.81 KES 2,951

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.84 KES 5,931

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 KES 24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$480 KES 62.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 KES 40.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,467 KES 707.4K

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 %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: August 18, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mombasa versus $148 in Homa Bay. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Homa Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mombasa is pricier by about 1053%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,014 per month in Mombasa and $88.0 in Homa Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Mombasa and $58.7 in Homa Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mombasa and $148 in Homa Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Mombasa and $58.7 in Homa Bay, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Homa Bay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Homa Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mombasa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.