Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $604 per month in Mombasa vs $430 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,064 per month in Mombasa vs $770 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Mombasa vs $1,110 in Kilifi, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 41% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mombasa and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 55% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 308

$2.27 KES 294

4.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 KES 2,498

$50.9 KES 6,593

-62.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 KES 1,106

$2.37 KES 307

259.92%

Cappuccino

$3.25 KES 421

$1.91 KES 248

70.16%

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

$0.51 KES 66.3

$0.80 KES 103

-36.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.2

$0.76 KES 98.2

-38.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$1.89 KES 245

0.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 KES 380

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.88 KES 114

-7.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.3

$0.75 KES 97.2

-29.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$1.96 KES 254

-26.53%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 223

$1.88 KES 243

-7.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 KES 1,291

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 KES 754

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 KES 679

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$2.28 KES 295

-20.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 KES 121

$0.90 KES 117

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.79 KES 232

-12.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$0.70 KES 90.2

8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

$0.64 KES 82.5

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.60 KES 77.6

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 KES 86.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 74.0

$0.24 KES 31.25

137.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 KES 430

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 KES 1,023

$12.57 KES 1,628

-37.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 KES 252

$1.97 KES 255

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

$0.75 KES 97.6

5.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.09 KES 4,546

$26.74 KES 3,464

31.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 391

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 252

$0.76 KES 98.1

156.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 597

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 208

$1.31 KES 170

22.14%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

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

$44.87 KES 5,813

$15.25 KES 1,976

194.23%

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

$14.07 KES 1,822

$10.26 KES 1,329

37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 KES 5,715

$24.87 KES 3,222

77.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 KES 2,356

$27.59 KES 3,574

-34.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 KES 2,455

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 KES 589

$7.57 KES 981

-39.89%

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

$87.3 KES 11.3K

$163 KES 21.1K

-46.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,325 KES 689.9K

$4,961 KES 642.6K

7.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 KES 1,734

$9.76 KES 1,265

37.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.83 KES 1,792

$9.06 KES 1,174

52.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.61 KES 3,059

$15.31 KES 1,984

54.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.29 KES 6,126

$17.27 KES 2,238

173.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 KES 23.0K

$177 KES 22.9K

0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

$114 KES 14.7K

1.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$605 KES 78.4K

$266 KES 34.5K

127.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 KES 60.2K

$269 KES 34.8K

73.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,402 KES 699.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,839 KES 497.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$318 KES 41.2K

$228 KES 29.5K

39.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

62.50%

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

Last update for Mombasa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $178 in Mombasa versus $177 in Kilifi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Mombasa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Mombasa versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Mombasa vs $100 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $604 in Mombasa, $430 in Kilifi – roughly 41% apart. Mombasa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Mombasa and $645 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $87.3 per month in Mombasa and $163 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Mombasa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $604 in Mombasa and $430 in Kilifi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kilifi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mombasa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.