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: $612 in Mombasa versus $490 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,055 in Mombasa versus $806 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Mombasa versus $1,122 in Isiolo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 25% more expensive than in Isiolo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 54% lower, Isiolo 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.36 KES 304

$5.37 KES 694

-56.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.60 KES 2,532

$29.99 KES 3,874

-34.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 KES 1,156

$3.85 KES 498

132.47%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 419

$2.47 KES 319

31.58%

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

$0.49 KES 62.8

$0.26 KES 33.41

88.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 KES 56.8

$0.22 KES 28.34

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 KES 257

$2.27 KES 293

-12.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

$2.92 KES 377

-2.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 110

$0.83 KES 107

2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.5

$0.41 KES 53.1

21.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 KES 189

$1.59 KES 206

-7.55%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$1.36 KES 175

27.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.83 KES 1,271

$11.51 KES 1,488

-14.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 KES 782

$6.62 KES 855

-8.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.32 KES 687

$5.59 KES 722

-4.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 240

$3.06 KES 396

-39.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$1.07 KES 139

-13.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 196

$2.08 KES 268

-26.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.6

$1.00 KES 129

-24.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 91.9

$1.07 KES 138

-33.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 KES 133

$1.17 KES 151

-11.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.7

$0.68 KES 88.0

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 74.5

$0.77 KES 99.0

-24.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 KES 427

$3.15 KES 407

5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 KES 971

$11.81 KES 1,526

-36.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 KES 246

$2.19 KES 283

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

$2.72 KES 352

4.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.03 KES 4,526

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 KES 403

$1.53 KES 198

103.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 KES 244

$1.58 KES 204

19.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 KES 605

$2.84 KES 366

64.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.45 KES 188

9.66%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$22.1K KES 2.9M

-45.74%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$19.9K KES 2.6M

-38.47%

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

$43.73 KES 5,649

$34.77 KES 4,492

25.77%

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

$14.03 KES 1,813

$16.82 KES 2,173

-16.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.15 KES 5,704

$40.05 KES 5,175

10.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.31 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 KES 2,483

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 KES 594

$6.26 KES 809

-26.52%

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

$86.1 KES 11.1K

$202 KES 26.1K

-57.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,434 KES 702.1K

$8,189 KES 1.1M

-33.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.02 KES 1,683

$18.58 KES 2,401

-29.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.93 KES 1,799

$23.88 KES 3,085

-41.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.26 KES 3,005

$64.9 KES 8,389

-64.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.34 KES 6,116

$56.8 KES 7,333

-16.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 KES 77.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 KES 58.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,470 KES 706.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,906 KES 504.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 KES 41.0K

$777 KES 100.4K

-59.18%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 145% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Mombasa vs $30.00 in Isiolo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $201 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 25% 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, salaries run 145% lower in Isiolo. 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $612 per month in Mombasa versus $490 in Isiolo – a 25% 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 25% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.