Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Siaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Mombasa and Siaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $625 per month in Mombasa vs $127 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,066 per month in Mombasa vs $218 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in Mombasa vs $308 in Siaya, rent included.

Mombasa costs about 392% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mombasa and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Mombasa 53% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 303

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.23 KES 2,489

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 KES 1,117

Cappuccino

$3.30 KES 427

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

$0.51 KES 66.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 62.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 KES 257

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 366

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 110

$0.79 KES 102

7.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.5

$0.45 KES 58.0

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 187

$1.22 KES 157

18.03%

Eggs

$1.81 KES 235

$1.63 KES 210

11.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 KES 1,295

$9.53 KES 1,234

5.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 KES 756

$5.56 KES 719

5.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 KES 704

$3.97 KES 513

37.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 KES 236

$1.92 KES 248

-5.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 KES 117

$1.04 KES 134

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KES 197

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 103

$0.93 KES 121

-13.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.1

$0.79 KES 102

-11.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.83 KES 107

30.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 79.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 77.7

$0.51 KES 65.8

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 446

Wine (Bottle)

$7.78 KES 1,006

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 KES 247

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 361

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 104

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.90 KES 4,516

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 KES 390

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 KES 246

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 596

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 KES 214

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

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$12.1K KES 1.6M

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

$44.92 KES 5,813

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

$13.95 KES 1,805

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.46 KES 5,624

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.80 KES 2,303

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.17 KES 2,480

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 KES 612

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

$88.7 KES 11.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,475 KES 708.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.32 KES 1,724

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.48 KES 1,744

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.12 KES 2,992

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.71 KES 5,914

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 KES 23.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 KES 15.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 KES 76.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 KES 58.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,322 KES 688.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,914 KES 506.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$313 KES 40.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mombasa: June 14, 2026

Last update for Siaya: June 15, 2026

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 Siaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $625 in Mombasa, $127 in Siaya – roughly 392% apart. Mombasa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $937 per month in Mombasa and $190 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $625 in Mombasa and $127 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Mombasa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $625 in Mombasa and $127 in Siaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Siaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Siaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mombasa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.