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 $685 per month in Mombasa vs $58.4 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Mombasa vs $451 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,523 per month in Mombasa vs $843 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 1074% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mombasa and Homa Bay are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 49% lower, Homa Bay 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 KES 292

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 KES 3,002

$151 KES 19.5K

-84.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 KES 1,359

$10.57 KES 1,371

-0.85%

Cappuccino

$3.63 KES 470

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

$0.93 KES 120

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.4

$1.02 KES 132

-58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 297

$2.43 KES 315

-5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

$5.06 KES 656

-36.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 KES 125

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

Eggs

$1.82 KES 236

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 KES 1,421

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 KES 729

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 KES 692

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 KES 155

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 KES 228

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.6

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 KES 130

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KES 77.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KES 58.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 KES 598

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 KES 979

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 KES 258

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 KES 378

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.80 KES 5,031

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 KES 401

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 220

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 KES 599

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 197

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)

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$54.3 KES 7,042

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

$13.03 KES 1,690

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.85 KES 4,389

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.25 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.13 KES 2,481

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 KES 1,403

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

$87.5 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,425 KES 703.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.86 KES 1,667

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.38 KES 1,735

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.47 KES 3,043

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.29 KES 6,003

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 KES 30.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 KES 70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 KES 52.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,305 KES 687.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,850 KES 499.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: September 26, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mombasa versus $151 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 1074%, 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 $1,028 per month in Mombasa and $87.6 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 $685 in Mombasa and $58.4 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 $151 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 $685 in Mombasa and $58.4 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.