Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kisii Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kisii

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Mombasa versus $309 in Kisii.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Mombasa versus $442 in Kisii.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Mombasa versus $576 in Kisii.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 125% more expensive than in Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 50% lower, Kisii 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$2.67 KES 345

-14.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.41 KES 3,028

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 KES 1,354

Cappuccino

$3.72 KES 481

$1.40 KES 181

165.71%

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

$0.94 KES 122

$0.82 KES 105

14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 51.6

$0.22 KES 28.43

81.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 KES 294

$1.83 KES 236

24.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 KES 414

$2.34 KES 302

36.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.88 KES 114

1.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.1

$0.48 KES 62.1

10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 KES 204

$2.34 KES 302

-32.48%

Eggs

$1.73 KES 224

$1.83 KES 236

-5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 KES 1,407

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 KES 732

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.33 KES 689

$4.56 KES 590

16.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 KES 273

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 KES 149

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KES 226

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 86.4

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 KES 131

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 KES 77.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 54.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 KES 594

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 KES 1,017

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 KES 257

$1.96 KES 253

1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 384

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.41 KES 52.8

95.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.13 KES 5,061

$15.66 KES 2,026

149.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 KES 394

$0.75 KES 96.4

305.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 220

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 KES 598

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.55 KES 201

0.65%

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)

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$11.4K KES 1.5M

6.20%

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

$54.4 KES 7,032

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

$13.01 KES 1,683

$16.47 KES 2,131

-21.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 KES 4,388

$49.35 KES 6,383

-31.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.29 KES 2,366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.68 KES 2,546

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 KES 1,425

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

$88.4 KES 11.4K

$38.45 KES 4,973

129.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,445 KES 704.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.32 KES 1,722

$11.39 KES 1,473

16.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.39 KES 1,732

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.00 KES 2,975

$39.25 KES 5,076

-41.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.52 KES 6,017

$30.78 KES 3,981

51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 KES 30.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 19.9K

$78.2 KES 10.1K

96.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 KES 69.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 KES 50.8K

$157 KES 20.3K

150.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,432 KES 702.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,861 KES 499.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 KES 41.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kisii: September 5, 2026

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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,044 in Mombasa and $464 in Kisii to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 226% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Mombasa versus $309 in Kisii – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kisii 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 Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.