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 $605 per month in Mombasa vs $57.2 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Mombasa vs $172 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,528 per month in Mombasa vs $287 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 958% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mombasa and Homa Bay are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 55% lower, Homa Bay 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 KES 310

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.38 KES 2,513

$38.34 KES 4,972

-49.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KES 1,135

$10.75 KES 1,394

-18.60%

Cappuccino

$3.14 KES 408

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

$0.51 KES 66.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.0

$0.97 KES 126

-51.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$2.44 KES 316

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 KES 387

$5.09 KES 660

-41.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 KES 107

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 KES 184

Eggs

$1.80 KES 233

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 KES 1,268

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 KES 773

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.40 KES 701

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 113

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 75.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 447

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 KES 1,004

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 359

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.22 KES 4,566

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 KES 398

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 253

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 KES 586

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 KES 213

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

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

$45.06 KES 5,842

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

$14.19 KES 1,840

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.51 KES 5,641

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.24 KES 2,494

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 KES 604

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

$85.5 KES 11.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,329 KES 691.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.41 KES 1,739

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.57 KES 1,760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.90 KES 2,970

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.05 KES 6,101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 KES 76.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 KES 59.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,473 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,912 KES 507.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Mombasa versus $38.00 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 958%, 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 $908 per month in Mombasa and $85.8 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 $605 in Mombasa and $57.2 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 $19.00 in Mombasa and $38.00 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 $605 in Mombasa and $57.2 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.