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 $614 per month in Mombasa vs $57.9 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,068 per month in Mombasa vs $171 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,523 per month in Mombasa vs $284 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 960% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mombasa and Homa Bay are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 54% lower, Homa Bay 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 KES 301

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.28 KES 2,488

$37.78 KES 4,876

-48.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 KES 1,154

$10.60 KES 1,368

-15.66%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 419

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

$0.48 KES 61.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 KES 57.8

$0.97 KES 125

-53.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 KES 255

$2.53 KES 327

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 KES 376

$5.12 KES 661

-43.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 KES 106

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 KES 182

Eggs

$1.82 KES 235

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 KES 1,279

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 KES 757

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 676

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 KES 235

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 112

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 196

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.7

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 KES 80.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 KES 79.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 429

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 KES 1,005

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 KES 252

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 94.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.27 KES 4,423

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 KES 408

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 KES 245

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 KES 587

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 KES 211

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

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

$44.31 KES 5,720

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

$14.23 KES 1,837

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.18 KES 5,702

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.34 KES 2,367

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.55 KES 2,523

Cinema Ticket

$4.59 KES 592

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

$85.7 KES 11.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,452 KES 703.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.12 KES 1,693

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.86 KES 1,789

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.60 KES 3,046

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.61 KES 6,016

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 KES 23.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 KES 77.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 KES 58.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,498 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,826 KES 493.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: April 27, 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 960%, 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 $921 per month in Mombasa and $86.9 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 $614 in Mombasa and $57.9 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 $614 in Mombasa and $57.9 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.