Cost of Living Comparison Between Nyeri and Mombasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Nyeri and Mombasa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $493 per month in Nyeri vs $689 in Mombasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $855 per month in Nyeri vs $1,111 in Mombasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,217 per month in Nyeri vs $1,534 in Mombasa, rent included.

Nyeri is about 28% cheaper than Mombasa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nyeri and Mombasa are more affordable than the global median – Nyeri 64% lower, Mombasa 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.76 KES 487
$2.30 KES 298
63.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.00 KES 4,528
$23.05 KES 2,982
51.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.08 KES 787
$10.61 KES 1,373
-42.70%
Cappuccino
$1.89 KES 245
$3.60 KES 466
-47.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 KES 41.94
$1.00 KES 130
-68.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 KES 72.4
$0.42 KES 54.8
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.37 KES 307
$2.26 KES 292
4.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 KES 343
$3.22 KES 417
-17.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 KES 66.1
$0.94 KES 121
-45.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 KES 66.2
$0.49 KES 63.8
4.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 KES 110
$1.58 KES 204
-46.20%
Eggs
$1.72 KES 222
$1.82 KES 235
-5.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.47 KES 1,355
$10.94 KES 1,416
-4.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.25 KES 808
$5.44 KES 704
14.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.62 KES 597
$5.34 KES 692
-13.48%
Apples (1kg)
$0.75 KES 97.4
$2.10 KES 271
-64.29%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 KES 72.3
$1.15 KES 148
-51.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 KES 86.2
$1.79 KES 231
-62.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.30 KES 38.70
$0.65 KES 84.1
-53.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 KES 31.10
$0.72 KES 93.7
-66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 KES 57.7
$1.05 KES 135
-57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 KES 94.2
$0.57 KES 73.4
28.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 68.3
$0.46 KES 59.4
15.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.58 KES 205
$4.51 KES 583
-64.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.69 KES 1,512
$7.61 KES 985
53.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 KES 298
$2.00 KES 259
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 KES 356
$2.88 KES 372
-4.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 KES 103
$0.76 KES 98.1
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.37 KES 1,989
$38.00 KES 4,917
-59.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 KES 195
$3.01 KES 389
-50.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 KES 147
$1.71 KES 222
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 KES 154
$4.54 KES 587
-73.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 KES 191
$1.56 KES 202
-5.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K KES 2.6M
$12.1K KES 1.6M
66.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K KES 2.6M
$11.8K KES 1.5M
69.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.37 KES 1,988
$55.1 KES 7,128
-72.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.82 KES 1,529
$13.42 KES 1,736
-11.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.99 KES 4,656
$33.92 KES 4,389
6.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.14 KES 4,417
$18.20 KES 2,355
87.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.55 KES 5,894
$18.95 KES 2,452
140.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 KES 1,002
$11.00 KES 1,423
-29.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 KES 30.7K
$87.7 KES 11.3K
170.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K KES 1.5M
$5,514 KES 713.4K
108.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.77 KES 1,523
$13.03 KES 1,686
-9.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.16 KES 1,832
$13.50 KES 1,746
4.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.45 KES 4,587
$23.12 KES 2,991
53.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.98 KES 2,456
$45.53 KES 5,891
-58.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$93.0 KES 12.0K
$229 KES 29.6K
-59.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.9 KES 9,174
$154 KES 19.9K
-53.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 KES 25.4K
$537 KES 69.5K
-63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 KES 19.8K
$389 KES 50.3K
-60.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,396 KES 698.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,931 KES 508.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nyeri
Mombasa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$230 KES 29.7K
$321 KES 41.5K
-28.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
13
13.15%

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

Last update for Nyeri: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $93.0 in Nyeri versus $229 in Mombasa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 40% higher in Mombasa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nyeri versus $23.00 in Mombasa. Groceries tell a different story – $160 in Nyeri vs $175 in Mombasa – so Nyeri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Nyeri vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nyeri and in Mombasa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $493 in Nyeri, $689 in Mombasa – roughly 40% apart. Mombasa costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Nyeri compared to Mombasa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $739 per month in Nyeri and $1,033 in Mombasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nyeri and Mombasa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nyeri, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nyeri and $23.00 in Mombasa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nyeri or Mombasa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $493 in Nyeri and $689 in Mombasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Nyeri compared to Mombasa?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $493 in Nyeri and $689 in Mombasa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Nyeri or Mombasa?
Families tend to lean toward Nyeri – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Nyeri and Mombasa?
If budget matters most, go with Nyeri. 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.

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