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: $689 in Mombasa versus $514 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,111 in Mombasa versus $840 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,534 in Mombasa versus $1,166 in Isiolo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 34% more expensive than in Isiolo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 50% lower, Isiolo 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 KES 298

$3.94 KES 510

-41.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.05 KES 2,982

$35.21 KES 4,555

-34.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 KES 1,373

$6.29 KES 814

68.68%

Cappuccino

$3.60 KES 466

$2.73 KES 354

31.87%

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

$1.00 KES 130

$0.56 KES 72.1

78.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.8

$0.55 KES 71.4

-23.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 KES 292

$2.30 KES 298

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KES 417

$2.76 KES 357

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 121

$0.85 KES 110

10.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.8

$0.56 KES 72.9

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.85 KES 239

-14.59%

Eggs

$1.82 KES 235

$1.72 KES 222

5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 KES 1,416

$10.22 KES 1,323

7.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 KES 704

$6.18 KES 799

-11.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 KES 691

$6.33 KES 819

-15.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 KES 271

$3.27 KES 423

-35.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 KES 148

$1.01 KES 130

13.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$2.04 KES 264

-12.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 KES 84.1

$1.12 KES 145

-41.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.7

$1.09 KES 141

-33.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 KES 73.4

$0.72 KES 93.4

-20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KES 59.4

$0.77 KES 99.6

-40.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 KES 583

$3.57 KES 461

26.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 KES 985

$11.46 KES 1,482

-33.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 KES 258

$2.31 KES 299

-13.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 KES 372

$2.74 KES 355

5.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.00 KES 4,916

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 KES 389

$1.56 KES 201

92.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 KES 222

$1.57 KES 203

8.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 KES 587

$2.94 KES 380

54.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.37 KES 177

13.87%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$20.6K KES 2.7M

-41.42%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$19.8K KES 2.6M

-40.49%

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

$55.1 KES 7,127

$61.9 KES 8,002

-10.93%

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

$13.42 KES 1,736

$15.31 KES 1,981

-12.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 KES 4,388

$34.94 KES 4,520

-2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.20 KES 2,355

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,452

Cinema Ticket

$11.00 KES 1,423

$7.59 KES 982

44.93%

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$236 KES 30.6K

-62.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,514 KES 713.4K

$11.5K KES 1.5M

-51.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,686

$26.78 KES 3,464

-51.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.50 KES 1,746

$25.71 KES 3,327

-47.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.12 KES 2,991

$63.7 KES 8,239

-63.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.53 KES 5,890

$59.2 KES 7,663

-23.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 KES 69.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 KES 50.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,396 KES 698.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,931 KES 508.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

$762 KES 98.6K

-57.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

-11.62%

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

Last update for Mombasa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 138% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mombasa vs $35.00 in Isiolo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 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 34% 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 138% 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 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $689 per month in Mombasa versus $514 in Isiolo – a 34% 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 34% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.