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: $604 in Mombasa versus $486 in Kiambu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Mombasa versus $750 in Kiambu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Mombasa versus $1,014 in Kiambu.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 24% more expensive than Kiambu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 55% lower, Kiambu 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 308

$3.16 KES 410

-25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 KES 2,498

$19.55 KES 2,533

-1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,106

$4.55 KES 589

87.47%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 421

$1.91 KES 247

70.16%

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

$0.51 KES 66.3

$0.54 KES 70.2

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.2

$0.34 KES 43.48

38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$1.76 KES 228

7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 KES 380

$2.26 KES 293

29.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.68 KES 88.3

19.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.3

$0.53 KES 68.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$1.66 KES 216

-13.25%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$1.36 KES 176

27.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 KES 1,291

$11.74 KES 1,522

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 754

$6.55 KES 848

-11.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 679

$4.15 KES 537

26.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$3.04 KES 394

-40.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$1.09 KES 141

-14.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$0.78 KES 102

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$0.56 KES 72.7

35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

$0.55 KES 70.7

29.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.76 KES 98.5

38.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.9

$0.32 KES 41.56

109.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 74.0

$0.40 KES 52.0

42.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 430

$3.01 KES 390

10.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,023

$11.43 KES 1,481

-30.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 252

$2.19 KES 284

-11.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

$2.79 KES 362

-2.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

$0.56 KES 72.1

41.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 391

$1.59 KES 207

89.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

$0.37 KES 48.56

427.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 597

$2.85 KES 369

61.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 208

$1.53 KES 198

4.58%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.9K KES 2.8M

-44.82%

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$19.7K KES 2.6M

-40.27%

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

$44.87 KES 5,813

$28.59 KES 3,704

56.94%

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

$14.07 KES 1,822

$7.60 KES 984

85.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 KES 5,715

$29.32 KES 3,799

50.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,356

$11.59 KES 1,502

56.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 589

$5.64 KES 731

-19.33%

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

$204 KES 26.5K

-57.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 689.9K

$8,097 KES 1.0M

-34.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,734

$6.24 KES 808

114.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,792

$23.84 KES 3,088

-41.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,059

$27.40 KES 3,550

-13.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,126

$30.38 KES 3,936

55.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

$115 KES 14.9K

54.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

$92.7 KES 12.0K

24.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 KES 78.4K

$191 KES 24.8K

216.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.2K

$146 KES 18.9K

218.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 699.9K

$1,137 KES 147.2K

375.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.2K

$122 KES 15.8K

159.92%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kiambu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Mombasa and $115 in Kiambu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mombasa pays 160% 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 $20.00 in Kiambu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $181 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Mombasa pays 160% more on average, 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: $178 in Mombasa versus $115 in Kiambu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $87.3 in Mombasa versus $204 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 $20.00 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 24% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.