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: $605 in Mombasa versus $443 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,067 in Mombasa versus $754 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,528 in Mombasa versus $1,065 in Machakos.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 37% more expensive than Machakos, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 55% lower, Machakos 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 KES 310

$2.34 KES 303

2.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.38 KES 2,513

$38.41 KES 4,980

-49.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KES 1,135

$6.89 KES 893

27.00%

Cappuccino

$3.14 KES 408

$1.95 KES 252

61.03%

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

$0.51 KES 66.7

$0.69 KES 90.1

-26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.0

$0.51 KES 65.7

-7.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$1.88 KES 243

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 KES 387

$2.77 KES 359

7.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 KES 107

$0.40 KES 52.4

107.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.2

$0.44 KES 56.9

20.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 KES 184

$0.76 KES 97.9

86.84%

Eggs

$1.80 KES 233

$1.36 KES 176

32.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 KES 1,268

$11.49 KES 1,490

-14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 KES 773

$6.77 KES 878

-11.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.40 KES 701

$4.75 KES 615

13.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

$1.53 KES 198

21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 113

$0.75 KES 96.9

16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

$0.37 KES 48.26

324.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.38 KES 49.23

105.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

$0.80 KES 104

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.78 KES 101

38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.7

$0.65 KES 83.7

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 75.1

$0.38 KES 48.81

52.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 447

$3.11 KES 404

10.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 KES 1,004

$11.55 KES 1,498

-32.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

$1.98 KES 257

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 KES 359

$2.75 KES 356

0.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.22 KES 4,566

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 KES 398

$0.73 KES 95.2

320.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 253

$0.80 KES 103

143.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 KES 586

$2.96 KES 384

52.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 KES 213

$1.51 KES 196

9.27%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$22.0K KES 2.8M

-44.83%

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

$19.6K KES 2.5M

-39.08%

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

$45.06 KES 5,842

$34.62 KES 4,489

30.16%

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

$14.19 KES 1,840

$7.56 KES 980

87.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.51 KES 5,641

$11.64 KES 1,510

273.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 KES 2,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.24 KES 2,494

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 KES 604

$6.27 KES 813

-25.84%

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

$85.5 KES 11.1K

$46.87 KES 6,077

82.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,329 KES 691.0K

$7,961 KES 1.0M

-33.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.41 KES 1,739

$11.72 KES 1,520

14.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.57 KES 1,760

$23.84 KES 3,091

-43.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.90 KES 2,970

$65.5 KES 8,497

-65.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.05 KES 6,101

$38.27 KES 4,962

22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 23.0K

$93.1 KES 12.1K

90.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.8K

$68.7 KES 8,910

65.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 KES 76.9K

$152 KES 19.7K

290.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 KES 59.6K

$118 KES 15.3K

289.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,473 KES 709.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,912 KES 507.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$319 KES 41.3K

$393 KES 50.9K

-18.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

-12.40%

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

Last update for Mombasa: June 7, 2026

Last update for Machakos: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Mombasa and $93.1 in Machakos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machakos pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Mombasa vs $38.00 in Machakos. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $165, with Machakos cheaper for home cooking.

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 37% 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, Machakos earns 23% less. 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: $177 in Mombasa versus $93.1 in Machakos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $605 per month in Mombasa versus $443 in Machakos – a 37% 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 37% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.