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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $128 per month in Siaya vs $619 in Mombasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $221 per month in Siaya vs $1,079 in Mombasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $315 per month in Siaya vs $1,539 in Mombasa, rent included.

Siaya is about 79% cheaper than Mombasa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 KES 302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.58 KES 2,531

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KES 1,146

Cappuccino

$3.30 KES 426

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

$0.52 KES 66.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KES 61.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 KES 242

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 KES 373

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 KES 95.6

$0.82 KES 105

-9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 57.1

$0.54 KES 70.3

-18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 KES 156

$1.44 KES 186

-16.67%

Eggs

$1.71 KES 221

$1.75 KES 226

-2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.54 KES 1,233

$10.05 KES 1,299

-5.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 KES 717

$6.01 KES 777

-7.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 KES 526

$5.21 KES 673

-21.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 KES 234

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.86 KES 111

24.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 KES 199

$1.53 KES 198

0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 KES 113

$0.73 KES 94.8

20.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 KES 99.7

$0.72 KES 92.9

6.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 KES 110

$1.07 KES 138

-20.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 KES 80.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 KES 70.8

$0.58 KES 75.0

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 KES 445

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 KES 1,026

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 254

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 KES 242

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 KES 596

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 KES 206

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)

$12.2K KES 1.6M

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

$44.01 KES 5,688

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

$14.12 KES 1,825

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.43 KES 5,743

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

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

$86.0 KES 11.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,470 KES 707.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.40 KES 1,732

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.87 KES 1,792

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.46 KES 3,032

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.74 KES 6,041

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Siaya: July 25, 2026

Last update for Mombasa: July 26, 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

Siaya vs Mombasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $128 in Siaya, $619 in Mombasa – roughly 385% apart. Mombasa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $191 per month in Siaya and $929 in Mombasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $128 in Siaya and $619 in Mombasa. 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 $128 in Siaya and $619 in Mombasa, 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.