Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Kitale

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitale: $4.79 a month against $715 in Mombasa, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Mombasa
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Mombasa Living Index

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Mombasa

🇰🇪 Kenya

$715

/mo nomad

Kitale

🇰🇪 Kenya

$4.79

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mombasa and in Kitale

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mombasa and in Kitale actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $715 per month in Mombasa vs $4.79 in Kitale, rent included.

Mombasa $715
Kitale $4.79

A couple spends around $1,138 per month in Mombasa vs $7.67 in Kitale, rent included.

Mombasa $1,138
Kitale $7.67

A family of three spends $1,560 per month in Mombasa vs $10.54 in Kitale, rent included.

Mombasa $1,560
Kitale $10.54

Mombasa costs about 14829% more than Kitale, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mombasa and Kitale are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 47% lower, Kitale 100% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 KES 342

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 KES 3,201

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 KES 1,364

Cappuccino

$2.71 KES 351

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

$0.74 KES 95.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 KES 303

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 KES 423

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 KES 119

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.3

$0.48 KES 62.2

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

Eggs

$1.82 KES 236

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.98 KES 1,814

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 KES 635

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 KES 682

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 KES 280

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 KES 148

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 KES 239

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 88.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 KES 77.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KES 55.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 KES 515

Wine (Bottle)

$9.51 KES 1,234

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 KES 257

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 KES 382

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 KES 105

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.41 KES 4,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 KES 410

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 KES 221

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 598

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 199

$1.74 KES 226

-12.07%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$11.9K KES 1.5M

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

$76.8 KES 9,962

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

$9.07 KES 1,177

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.36 KES 4,460

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.66 KES 2,292

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.32 KES 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 KES 1,980

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

$86.7 KES 11.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,484 KES 711.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.89 KES 1,673

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.50 KES 1,752

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.07 KES 2,995

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.74 KES 6,067

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 KES 29.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 KES 20.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 KES 69.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 KES 47.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,457 KES 708.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,881 KES 503.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 KES 41.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kitale: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Mombasa

$185 25.8%

Kitale

–

Accommodation & Living

Mombasa

$157 22%

Kitale

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mombasa

$120 16.8%

Kitale

–

Eating Out

Mombasa

$108 15.1%

Kitale

–

Getting Around

Mombasa

$53 7.5%

Kitale

–

Sport & Entertainment

Mombasa

$48 6.7%

Kitale

–

Clothing & Footwear

Mombasa

$43 6.1%

Kitale

–

Good to know

🇰🇪 Mombasa

🇰🇪 Kitale

🕒 Local time

18:04 6:04 PM

Same time as Mombasa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,300,000

107,806

💱 Currency

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KES = 7.7 USD

1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.7 USD

1,000 KES = 6.9 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Mombasa Kitale 770 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Mombasa
Kitale

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kitale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mombasa costs about 14829% more than Kitale, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,073 per month in Mombasa and $7.19 in Kitale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $715 in Mombasa and $4.79 in Kitale. That makes Kitale about 99% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 3757% more in Mombasa, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $715 in Mombasa and $4.79 in Kitale, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Mombasa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4.79 in Kitale to $715 in Mombasa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.