Mombasa, Kenya
Last updated on May 14, 2025
Summary: Expats, digital nomads and retirees talk about what it is really like living in Mombasa, Kenya. They offer advice about meeting people, cost of living, finding a home and more.
What do I need to know before moving to Mombasa?
When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Mombasa, they said:
"Choose a safe neighborhood with many expats. Gated compounds with security and alarm systems are good," remarked one expat who made the move to Mombasa.
How do I find a place to live in Mombasa?
We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:
"Our employer Kaluworks provided us a well furnished apartment in an expat compound in Tudor," remarked one expat who made the move to Mombasa.
What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Mombasa?
"It's a spacious l 2 bedroom comfortably furnished apartment. This is the standard for most expats," said one expat in Mombasa.
What is the average cost of housing in Mombasa?
If you are thinking about moving to Mombasa, cost of living in probably a key consideration. Expats commented about the cost of housing:
"Housing is around 30/35 thousand Kenyan shillings. It is the same or even lower than in my host country," said one expat in Mombasa.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of InternationalTravel.ai and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and InternationalTravel.ai, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

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