Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Lusaka vs Mombasa

Lusaka vs Mombasa

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Lusaka 49% cheaper Moderate / Low

Lusaka

Vije Vijendranath/Unsplash

Mombasa

Harshil Gudka/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$1,367

Lusaka

$2,677

Mombasa

Internet

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Lusaka

Low

Mombasa

Air Quality

5/5

Lusaka

5/5

Mombasa

Healthcare

High

Lusaka

High

Mombasa

Population

1.7m

Lusaka

915.1k

Mombasa

Lusaka (Zambia) and Mombasa (Kenya) are both in Africa, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

Lusaka is significantly cheaper for digital nomads at $1367/mo — 49% less than Mombasa's $2677/mo. Over 12 months, the difference adds up to $15720.

For families, Lusaka costs $806.9391088542649/mo compared to Mombasa's $1604.261316512689/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Lusaka leads on internet connectivity at 20 Mbps (ranked #167 globally) versus Mombasa's 14 Mbps (#180). The speed gap is notable for video-heavy remote work.

Quality of Life

Lusaka has a stronger safety profile than Mombasa, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Lusaka and Mombasa.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Lusaka is April (around 27 degrees, 0mm rain, score 402), while Mombasa peaks in May (33 degrees, 0mm rain, score 410). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

LusakaMombasa

Nomad$1,367/mo$2,677/mo

Expat$530/mo$710/mo

Local$231/mo$458/mo

Family$807/mo$1,604/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

LusakaMombasa

City Speed

20 Mbps#167

14 Mbps#180

Country Speed22 Mbps14 Mbps

Environment & Health

LusakaMombasa

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionHighHigh

ClimateN/AHigh

Humidity8972

Quality of Life

LusakaMombasa

SafetyModerateLow

HealthcareHighHigh

Monthly Weather Comparison

Lusaka

Mombasa

Jan

29°

3mm309

38°

2mm308

Feb

32°

0mm389

39°

2mm318

Mar

29°

1mm378

39°

3mm308

Apr

27°

0mm402

33°

7mm246

May

24°

0mm402

33°

0mm410

Jun

20°

0mm382

30°

0mm386

Jul

24°

0mm402

31°

1mm348

Aug

25°

0mm402

31°

1mm328

Sep

29°

0mm402

33°

1mm323

Oct

31°

0mm402

35°

1mm318

Nov

32°

1mm378

37°

3mm287

Dec

33°

0mm387

38°

5mm246

Who Should Choose Lusaka?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1367
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $806.9391088542649/mo for families
Peak season in April — 27 degrees, score 402

Who Should Choose Mombasa?

Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1604.261316512689/mo for families
Peak season in May — 33 degrees, score 410

Overall Verdict

Overall, Lusaka edges ahead for most digital nomads — at $1367/mo it runs 49% cheaper than Mombasa's $2677/mo, with 20 Mbps internet for reliable remote work.

Granular Price Comparison

Lusaka Mombasa

ItemLusakaMombasaDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$3$1.83

39%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$18.37$13.86

25%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.17$5.3

40%

Cappuccino (regular)$1.81$1.82

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$1.22$1.71

29%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$1.5$1.75

14%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.88$0.54

39%

Water (0.33L)$0.47$0.73

36%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.34$0.95

29%

White bread (500g)$0.95$0.54

43%

White rice (1kg)$2$1.87

Eggs (12)$1.73$2.07

16%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$4.18$6.03

31%

Beef round (1kg)$5.3$5.98

11%

Local cheese (1kg)$9.11$9.39

Apples (1kg)$2.48$1.67

33%

Bananas (1kg)$1.49$1.48

Oranges (1kg)$2.51$2.45

Tomatoes (1kg)$1.16$0.9

22%

Potatoes (1kg)$1.23$1.04

15%

Onions (1kg)$1.59$0.82

48%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.22$0.76

38%

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.98$0.41

58%

Wine, mid-range bottle$4.9$8.15

40%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$0.99$2.02

51%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$1.26$3.06

59%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.66$3.67

28%

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$1.24$0.57

54%

Monthly transport pass$30.62$40.77

25%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$3$1.43

52%

Taxi per 1km$0.62$2.04

70%

Taxi 1hr waiting$9.19—

—

Gasoline (1L)$1.36$1.08

21%

Volkswagen Golf (new)$8,593.28—

—

Toyota Corolla (new)$6,444.46—

—

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$140.69$27.18

81%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$103.74$30.57

71%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.07$0.03

57%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$23.82$28.54

17%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$4.78—

—

Cinema, 1 ticket$2$5.71

65%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$171.24$199.84

14%

International primary school/yr$14,061.39—

—

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$12.66$16.71

24%

Summer dress (chain store)$31.12$24.46

21%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$90.18$15.49

83%

Men's leather business shoes$105.64$14.68

86%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$262.01$146.76

44%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$168.4$190.24

11%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$832.64$1,263.76

34%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$439.96$580.92

24%

🏗️Buy1 items

Price per m², city centre$10,763.91$570.73

95%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$396.94$244.6

38%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$26—

—

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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