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: $619 in Mombasa versus $509 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,079 in Mombasa versus $843 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,539 in Mombasa versus $1,176 in Molo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 22% more expensive than in Molo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 53% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 302

$5.51 KES 713

-57.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.58 KES 2,531

$39.20 KES 5,067

-50.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KES 1,146

$6.87 KES 888

29.11%

Cappuccino

$3.30 KES 426

$2.45 KES 316

34.69%

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

$0.52 KES 66.8

$0.72 KES 92.7

-27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.5

$0.54 KES 69.5

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 KES 242

$2.27 KES 294

-17.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 KES 373

$2.87 KES 370

0.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 105

$0.92 KES 119

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 70.3

$0.57 KES 73.8

-5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 186

$1.59 KES 206

-9.43%

Eggs

$1.75 KES 226

$1.68 KES 217

4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 KES 1,299

$11.53 KES 1,490

-12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 KES 777

$6.85 KES 885

-12.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 KES 673

$5.46 KES 706

-4.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

$3.14 KES 406

-42.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 KES 111

$1.07 KES 138

-19.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 KES 198

$2.14 KES 276

-28.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.8

$1.06 KES 137

-31.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 92.9

$1.03 KES 133

-30.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$1.12 KES 145

-4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.5

$0.65 KES 83.4

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 75.0

$0.81 KES 105

-28.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 445

$3.04 KES 393

13.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 KES 1,026

$11.71 KES 1,514

-32.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

$2.22 KES 287

-11.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

$2.68 KES 346

5.97%

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

$1.50 KES 194

107.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 KES 242

$1.51 KES 195

23.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 596

$2.83 KES 366

62.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

$1.59 KES 206

0.63%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-43.74%

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

$20.2K KES 2.6M

-39.57%

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

$44.01 KES 5,688

$34.40 KES 4,447

27.94%

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

$14.12 KES 1,825

$17.11 KES 2,211

-17.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.43 KES 5,743

$39.29 KES 5,078

13.08%

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

$6.28 KES 812

-26.91%

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

$86.0 KES 11.1K

$202 KES 26.1K

-57.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,470 KES 707.0K

$7,932 KES 1.0M

-31.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.40 KES 1,732

$18.28 KES 2,363

-26.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.87 KES 1,792

$24.43 KES 3,157

-43.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.46 KES 3,032

$66.2 KES 8,560

-64.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.74 KES 6,041

$57.0 KES 7,361

-17.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 KES 23.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 KES 76.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 KES 57.8K

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

$390 KES 50.4K

-19.63%

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 Molo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo 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: $20.00 in Mombasa vs $39.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $207 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 Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $619 per month in Mombasa versus $509 in Molo – a 22% 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 22% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.