Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Machakos Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Machakos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $674 in Mombasa versus $526 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,121 in Mombasa versus $809 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Mombasa versus $1,092 in Machakos.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 28% more expensive than in Machakos, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 51% lower, Machakos 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$3.07 KES 397

-26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.05 KES 2,982

$19.14 KES 2,476

20.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.29 KES 1,332

$6.36 KES 823

61.79%

Cappuccino

$3.69 KES 478

$1.96 KES 254

88.27%

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

$1.01 KES 131

$0.60 KES 77.3

68.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.0

$0.53 KES 69.0

-18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 KES 306

$2.13 KES 276

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 KES 423

$2.74 KES 355

19.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.38 KES 48.67

147.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.6

$0.47 KES 61.1

6.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$0.73 KES 94.8

113.70%

Eggs

$1.75 KES 227

$1.38 KES 178

26.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 KES 1,429

$10.68 KES 1,383

3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 KES 712

$6.50 KES 841

-15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.31 KES 687

$4.68 KES 606

13.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$1.57 KES 204

38.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 KES 154

$0.81 KES 104

46.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 KES 239

$0.38 KES 48.89

386.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.4

$0.37 KES 48.05

72.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.1

$0.80 KES 104

-16.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.78 KES 101

34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 KES 72.8

$0.69 KES 89.0

-18.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.3

$0.38 KES 48.70

13.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 KES 589

$3.39 KES 439

34.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 KES 973

$11.68 KES 1,512

-35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 KES 248

$1.95 KES 253

-1.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 KES 364

$2.83 KES 366

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.16 KES 4,938

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 KES 404

$0.79 KES 102

294.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 KES 232

$0.79 KES 102

126.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 KES 612

$2.86 KES 370

65.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 200

$1.43 KES 186

8.39%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.9K KES 2.8M

-45.00%

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

$11.7K KES 1.5M

$20.5K KES 2.6M

-42.64%

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

$56.0 KES 7,246

$62.6 KES 8,097

-10.52%

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

$13.27 KES 1,717

$7.54 KES 976

75.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 KES 4,352

$11.42 KES 1,477

194.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.32 KES 2,371

$38.55 KES 4,988

-52.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.23 KES 2,488

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 KES 1,373

$7.71 KES 997

37.61%

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

$87.8 KES 11.4K

$46.27 KES 5,988

89.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,364 KES 694.0K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

-52.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.27 KES 1,717

$11.44 KES 1,480

16.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.59 KES 1,758

$27.85 KES 3,604

-51.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.09 KES 2,987

$71.0 KES 9,181

-67.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.00 KES 5,953

$38.84 KES 5,026

18.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 KES 29.8K

$92.3 KES 11.9K

149.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 20.0K

$70.3 KES 9,094

119.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 KES 71.3K

$154 KES 20.0K

257.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 KES 51.7K

$115 KES 14.8K

248.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,493 KES 710.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,917 KES 506.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$315 KES 40.8K

$391 KES 50.6K

-19.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

-11.62%

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

Last update for Mombasa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Machakos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Mombasa and $92.3 in Machakos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machakos pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Mombasa vs $19.00 in Machakos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $162 per month, with Machakos 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 Machakos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Mombasa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Machakos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $230 in Mombasa versus $92.3 in Machakos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $674 per month in Mombasa versus $526 in Machakos – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Machakos 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.

Safety-wise, Mombasa and Machakos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Machakos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.