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: $619 in Mombasa versus $442 in Machakos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,079 in Mombasa versus $763 in Machakos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,539 in Mombasa versus $1,085 in Machakos.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 40% more expensive than in Machakos, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 53% lower, Machakos 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 302

$2.37 KES 307

-1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.58 KES 2,531

$38.19 KES 4,936

-48.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KES 1,146

$6.63 KES 857

33.79%

Cappuccino

$3.30 KES 426

$1.89 KES 244

74.60%

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

$0.52 KES 66.8

$0.71 KES 91.6

-26.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.5

$0.50 KES 64.4

-4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 KES 242

$1.95 KES 252

-4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 KES 373

$2.65 KES 342

9.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 105

$0.41 KES 52.8

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 70.3

$0.48 KES 61.6

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 186

$0.76 KES 97.7

89.47%

Eggs

$1.75 KES 226

$1.37 KES 177

27.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 KES 1,299

$11.41 KES 1,475

-11.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 KES 777

$6.59 KES 851

-8.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 KES 673

$4.68 KES 604

11.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$1.51 KES 195

19.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.74 KES 95.6

16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.37 KES 48.17

313.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.8

$0.38 KES 48.78

92.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 92.9

$0.73 KES 94.9

-1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.79 KES 102

35.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.5

$0.66 KES 85.0

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 75.0

$0.37 KES 48.00

56.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 445

$3.12 KES 403

10.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 KES 1,026

$11.40 KES 1,474

-30.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

$1.96 KES 253

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

$2.79 KES 361

1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 96.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.00 KES 4,524

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 KES 402

$0.76 KES 98.2

309.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 KES 242

$0.73 KES 94.8

156.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 596

$2.94 KES 379

56.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$1.51 KES 195

5.96%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$21.4K KES 2.8M

-42.86%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$19.7K KES 2.5M

-37.95%

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

$44.01 KES 5,688

$34.06 KES 4,402

29.21%

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

$14.12 KES 1,825

$7.77 KES 1,004

81.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.43 KES 5,743

$11.38 KES 1,471

290.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.28 KES 2,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.64 KES 2,538

Cinema Ticket

$4.59 KES 593

$6.02 KES 778

-23.75%

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

$86.0 KES 11.1K

$47.26 KES 6,109

81.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,470 KES 707.0K

$8,045 KES 1.0M

-32.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.40 KES 1,732

$11.59 KES 1,498

15.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.87 KES 1,792

$23.79 KES 3,075

-41.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.46 KES 3,032

$65.9 KES 8,522

-64.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.74 KES 6,041

$38.20 KES 4,937

22.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.3K

$92.3 KES 11.9K

95.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.2K

$68.4 KES 8,838

72.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 KES 76.9K

$156 KES 20.1K

282.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 KES 57.8K

$114 KES 14.7K

292.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,454 KES 704.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,880 KES 501.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$314 KES 40.5K

$380 KES 49.1K

-17.49%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Machakos: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Mombasa and $92.3 in Machakos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machakos pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Mombasa vs $38.00 in Machakos. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $163, 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 40% 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 21% 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: $181 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 5% higher in Mombasa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $619 per month in Mombasa versus $442 in Machakos – a 40% 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 40% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.