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: $605 in Mombasa versus $516 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,067 in Mombasa versus $847 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,528 in Mombasa versus $1,178 in Molo.

Living in Mombasa is roughly 17% more expensive than Molo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mombasa 55% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 KES 310

$5.37 KES 696

-55.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.38 KES 2,513

$38.20 KES 4,953

-49.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KES 1,135

$6.68 KES 866

30.99%

Cappuccino

$3.14 KES 408

$2.43 KES 316

29.22%

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

$0.51 KES 66.7

$0.72 KES 93.3

-29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KES 61.0

$0.50 KES 64.7

-6.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 KES 246

$2.39 KES 310

-20.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 KES 387

$2.86 KES 371

4.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 KES 107

$0.94 KES 122

-11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.2

$0.53 KES 68.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 KES 184

$1.64 KES 213

-13.41%

Eggs

$1.80 KES 233

$1.68 KES 218

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 KES 1,268

$11.60 KES 1,504

-15.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 KES 773

$6.68 KES 866

-10.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.40 KES 701

$5.77 KES 749

-6.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

$3.06 KES 397

-39.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 113

$1.05 KES 136

-17.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KES 204

$2.10 KES 273

-25.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.02 KES 132

-23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.3

$1.08 KES 140

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$1.11 KES 144

-2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.7

$0.64 KES 83.0

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 KES 75.1

$0.75 KES 96.9

-22.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 447

$3.02 KES 392

13.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 KES 1,004

$11.46 KES 1,486

-32.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

$2.18 KES 283

-10.09%

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

$1.58 KES 205

94.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 KES 253

$1.58 KES 204

23.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 KES 586

$2.91 KES 378

55.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 KES 213

$1.56 KES 203

5.77%

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

$21.3K KES 2.8M

-43.15%

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

$12.0K KES 1.6M

$19.7K KES 2.6M

-39.28%

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

$45.06 KES 5,842

$34.50 KES 4,474

30.61%

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

$14.19 KES 1,840

$16.63 KES 2,156

-14.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.51 KES 5,641

$38.70 KES 5,018

12.43%

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

$6.37 KES 826

-27.00%

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

$85.5 KES 11.1K

$206 KES 26.8K

-58.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,329 KES 691.0K

$8,045 KES 1.0M

-33.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.41 KES 1,739

$18.33 KES 2,376

-26.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.57 KES 1,760

$24.45 KES 3,170

-44.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$22.90 KES 2,970

$66.5 KES 8,625

-65.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.05 KES 6,101

$55.6 KES 7,205

-15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 23.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 KES 76.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 KES 59.6K

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

$388 KES 50.3K

-17.94%

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 Molo: June 8, 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: $19.00 in Mombasa vs $38.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $205 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Molo earns 22% less. 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 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $605 per month in Mombasa versus $516 in Molo – a 17% 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 17% less than in Mombasa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.