Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Molo Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Molo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $674 in Mombasa versus $544 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,121 in Mombasa versus $882 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,569 in Mombasa versus $1,220 in Molo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 24% more expensive than in Molo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 51% lower, Molo 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$4.55 KES 589

-50.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.05 KES 2,982

$35.29 KES 4,566

-34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.29 KES 1,332

$6.03 KES 781

70.65%

Cappuccino

$3.69 KES 478

$2.75 KES 356

34.18%

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

$1.01 KES 131

$0.58 KES 75.6

74.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.0

$0.64 KES 82.5

-32.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 KES 306

$2.27 KES 293

4.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 KES 423

$2.65 KES 343

23.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.6

$0.58 KES 74.4

-13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.86 KES 241

-16.13%

Eggs

$1.75 KES 227

$1.70 KES 220

2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 KES 1,429

$10.67 KES 1,380

3.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 KES 712

$6.33 KES 819

-13.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.31 KES 687

$6.11 KES 791

-13.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$3.31 KES 428

-34.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 KES 154

$1.07 KES 138

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 KES 239

$2.06 KES 267

-10.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.4

$1.13 KES 146

-43.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KES 87.1

$1.14 KES 148

-41.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$1.09 KES 141

-3.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 KES 72.8

$0.67 KES 87.3

-16.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KES 55.3

$0.74 KES 95.8

-41.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 KES 589

$3.44 KES 445

32.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 KES 973

$11.61 KES 1,503

-35.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 KES 248

$2.32 KES 300

-17.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 KES 364

$2.74 KES 354

2.55%

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

$1.52 KES 197

105.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 KES 232

$1.51 KES 195

18.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 KES 612

$2.92 KES 378

61.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 200

$1.57 KES 204

-1.27%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-44.39%

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

$11.7K KES 1.5M

$20.5K KES 2.7M

-42.70%

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

$56.0 KES 7,246

$62.5 KES 8,082

-10.36%

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

$13.27 KES 1,717

$15.75 KES 2,038

-15.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 KES 4,352

$35.67 KES 4,616

-5.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.32 KES 2,371

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.23 KES 2,488

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 KES 1,373

$7.90 KES 1,022

34.30%

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

$87.8 KES 11.4K

$246 KES 31.8K

-64.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,364 KES 694.0K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

-53.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.27 KES 1,717

$27.81 KES 3,599

-52.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.59 KES 1,758

$28.43 KES 3,679

-52.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.09 KES 2,987

$68.9 KES 8,909

-66.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.00 KES 5,953

$58.0 KES 7,498

-20.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 KES 29.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 KES 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 KES 71.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 KES 51.7K

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

$386 KES 49.9K

-18.24%

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 Molo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo pays 22% 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 $35.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $206 per month, with Mombasa 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 Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Molo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Molo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Mombasa pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $674 per month in Mombasa versus $544 in Molo – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Molo 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 Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.