Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kiambu Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kiambu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $618 in Mombasa versus $489 in Kiambu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,060 in Mombasa versus $759 in Kiambu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,502 in Mombasa versus $1,030 in Kiambu.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 27% more expensive than in Kiambu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 KES 304

$3.12 KES 403

-24.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 KES 2,478

$19.07 KES 2,464

0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,137

$4.74 KES 613

85.65%

Cappuccino

$3.18 KES 411

$1.91 KES 246

66.49%

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

$0.48 KES 62.5

$0.50 KES 64.3

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.36 KES 47.14

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 KES 253

$1.73 KES 224

13.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 364

$2.34 KES 302

20.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.64 KES 82.5

28.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.9

$0.54 KES 69.2

-9.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 KES 180

$1.66 KES 214

-15.66%

Eggs

$1.79 KES 231

$1.29 KES 167

38.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 KES 1,255

$11.83 KES 1,529

-17.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 752

$6.76 KES 874

-13.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 KES 675

$4.17 KES 539

25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 KES 231

$3.06 KES 395

-41.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 KES 117

$1.07 KES 139

-14.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 197

$0.81 KES 104

87.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.59 KES 76.8

33.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.5

$0.59 KES 75.7

15.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 139

$0.76 KES 98.1

42.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.4

$0.32 KES 41.55

106.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 78.0

$0.37 KES 48.13

62.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 KES 427

$3.01 KES 390

9.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 KES 1,027

$11.50 KES 1,486

-30.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 KES 243

$2.30 KES 298

-18.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 358

$2.84 KES 367

-2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.4

$0.56 KES 72.1

33.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.08 KES 4,533

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

$1.53 KES 197

99.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 KES 251

$0.41 KES 52.6

373.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 KES 592

$2.84 KES 367

61.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$1.52 KES 196

5.26%

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

$12.0K KES 1.5M

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-44.76%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$19.9K KES 2.6M

-40.74%

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

$44.61 KES 5,765

$28.46 KES 3,678

56.75%

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

$14.45 KES 1,867

$7.90 KES 1,021

82.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.55 KES 5,627

$28.86 KES 3,730

50.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.09 KES 2,337

$11.68 KES 1,509

54.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 KES 609

$5.93 KES 767

-20.57%

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

$87.7 KES 11.3K

$201 KES 26.0K

-56.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,406 KES 698.6K

$7,976 KES 1.0M

-32.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.03 KES 1,684

$6.26 KES 809

108.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.80 KES 1,784

$23.57 KES 3,045

-41.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,050

$26.87 KES 3,473

-12.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.93 KES 5,935

$30.47 KES 3,937

50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.4K

$117 KES 15.1K

54.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

$92.6 KES 12.0K

27.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 KES 76.3K

$191 KES 24.7K

208.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 KES 59.7K

$149 KES 19.3K

209.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,440 KES 702.9K

$1,159 KES 149.8K

369.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,820 KES 493.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$321 KES 41.5K

$123 KES 15.9K

160.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.18%

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

Last update for Mombasa: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kiambu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Mombasa and $117 in Kiambu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mombasa pays 161% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mombasa vs $19.00 in Kiambu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $183 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 Kiambu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kiambu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 161% higher in Mombasa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Mombasa versus $117 in Kiambu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $87.7 in Mombasa versus $201 in Kiambu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kiambu – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $19.00 in Mombasa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kiambu 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 Kiambu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.