Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Isiolo Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Isiolo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $604 in Mombasa versus $501 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Mombasa versus $817 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Mombasa versus $1,134 in Isiolo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 21% more expensive than Isiolo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 307

$5.51 KES 713

-56.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 KES 2,494

$30.58 KES 3,955

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,104

$3.90 KES 505

118.72%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 420

$2.35 KES 304

38.30%

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

$0.51 KES 66.2

$0.28 KES 36.52

82.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.1

$0.22 KES 28.31

113.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 245

$2.25 KES 291

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 KES 379

$2.86 KES 370

2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.86 KES 111

-5.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.2

$0.45 KES 57.8

17.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$1.65 KES 214

-12.73%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$1.42 KES 184

21.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 KES 1,289

$11.74 KES 1,518

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 753

$6.69 KES 865

-13.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 677

$5.53 KES 715

-5.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$3.09 KES 399

-41.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$1.05 KES 135

-11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$2.17 KES 281

-28.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.0

$1.06 KES 137

-28.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.2

$1.07 KES 139

-33.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$1.13 KES 146

-7.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.8

$0.69 KES 89.8

-2.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 73.9

$0.75 KES 97.0

-24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 429

$3.04 KES 393

9.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,021

$11.63 KES 1,504

-32.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 251

$2.20 KES 284

-11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,538

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 390

$1.51 KES 195

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

$1.51 KES 195

29.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 596

$2.86 KES 370

61.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 207

$1.40 KES 182

14.29%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-44.40%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$20.2K KES 2.6M

-41.73%

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

$44.87 KES 5,803

$35.01 KES 4,527

28.16%

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

$14.07 KES 1,819

$16.69 KES 2,158

-15.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 KES 5,705

$39.05 KES 5,050

12.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,451

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 588

$6.10 KES 789

-25.41%

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

$203 KES 26.2K

-56.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 688.7K

$8,151 KES 1.1M

-34.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,731

$18.05 KES 2,334

-25.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,789

$24.24 KES 3,135

-42.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,053

$64.1 KES 8,295

-63.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,115

$56.5 KES 7,305

-16.29%

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 78.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 698.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 496.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.1K

$776 KES 100.4K

-59.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

-12.40%

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

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 144% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mombasa vs $31.00 in Isiolo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $203 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 Isiolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Isiolo earns 144% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Mombasa pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $604 per month in Mombasa versus $501 in Isiolo – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Isiolo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Isiolo 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.