Abduljabbar Ali If you are wondering whether Mombasa is a good place for you to live, this article is going to break down for you everything you need to know.
Mombasa is a hot spot for lots of cultural and historical activities that make it unique and vibrant from any other city in Kenya.
What you can find in the coastal areas of Mombasa beats what you can get in the big cities like Nairobi the capital city of Kenya.
I was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya. All the time I have been in Mombasa I got to learn the best and worst side of this city.
But for today, I will only be sharing with you what makes Mombasa the perfect place for you to live in.
I know we all have our preferences. What may be exciting for me, may not be the same for you.
Some things make Mombasa the perfect place to live if you are planning to settle there or make it your second home.
This is what makes Mombasa a perfect place to live;
1. It’s cheaper to live in Mombasa Kenya.
It’s cheaper to live in Mombasa Kenya because you can easily get what you want at a reasonable price.
In Mombasa, you are close to the big markets that contain everything you need.
If you want to do a big shopping that could take you a month or two, the best thing for you to do is to go to the markets.
One of the second largest markets in Mombasa (Marikiti) is within Mombasa town making it easier for the locals to get everything they want without using so much money when it comes to transport.
Apart from the Marikit market, the streets of Mombasa hold so many business sports and stores, including the China Mall that was recently opened opposite Post Officine.
In these vibrant streets of Mombasa, you can get anything you want at a reasonable price making it possible for you to spend less money.
You can find these business spots in Mombasa along Digo Road, Makadara Road, Haile Selassie Avenue, Jomo Kenyatta Avenue, Mwembe Tayari and so many other streets I can’t mention.
Another thing that makes Mombasa a perfect place for you to move in is the cheap rentals and low accommodation prices.
You don’t need to make much money to live in the center of the city (especially if you earn money in dollars).
With $150 per month, you can secure a good apartment around Ganjoni, Tudor, and Bamburi which are also close to amazing shopping spots that will make it easier for you to get everything you need at ease.
Read also; 7 Best Areas To Stay In Mombasa
If you decide that you don’t want to rent and you only prefer to stay in Airbnb, you can get an Airbnb from a start price of $12 which is very cheap compared to other tourist destinations in Kenya.
So, you can decide to live off your backpack and suitcase and work online and still get the best experience living in Mombasa as a local.
Read also; 8 Cheapest Places To Live In Mombasa
This is one of the amazing parts when it comes to living in Mombasa.
Read also; What Makes Mombasa A Cheaper Place To Live [5 Major Things]
2. The food wins the hearts of so many visitors.
If you have watched any videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, everyone who visits Mombasa Kenya for the first time is blown away by the amazing food and snacks they try.
You can’t beat Mombasa for the amazing foods and snacks you can get at a reasonable price.
In Mombasa, we have palm trees that produce coconuts that are used as ingredients in so many dishes.
Did you know that rice, beans, peas, green grams, cassava, mahamri, and so many more dishes can be cooked with coconut water? The results are that it will give you a test you have never tried before.
The entire Mombasa cuisine will give you goosebumps and you will always be pumped to try every single meal in Mombasa, which you can’t exhaust.
Not to exaggerate, Mombasa, Kenya has the best foods you can find in the entire country.
So, if you are a foodie lover you will always have a feast during any meal of the day you would like to try in Mombasa.
What makes the food so interesting is that it’s always prepared using special spices that are rarely found far away from the coastal region.
A plate of Peas and Mahamri that would cost you $10 in Nairobi (the Capital city of Kenya) will only get it at $3 in Mombasa.
On the other hand, if we talk about street foods, Oh my! That is where your taste buds will be blown off entirely.
On the same streets of Mombasa such as Jomo Kenyatta Avenue and Digo Road, you can find amazing street foods that you will never get tired of at a cheaper price.
Whenever I go to Mombasa, the best street foods I fill my belly with are these; shawarma, bajia, viazi karai, mishakiki, mitai, kaimati, labania, kashata, achari and so many others that I can’t mention.
All these are delicious street foods that will make you happy and excited to have decided to live in Mombasa.
What Mombasa can offer, you will rarely find in other cities in Kenya. If you can find what Mombasa offers in other cities, it’s going to be super expensive.
That is why I told you that the food in Mombasa wins the hearts of lots of tourists.
This is another thing that makes Mombasa a truly amazing place to live.
Read also; 17 Top Things To Do In Mombasa
3. Mombasa accommodates people of different diversities.
Another fascinating thing about Mombasa is that it doesn’t discriminate. You can be a person of a different race, ethnic group, and beliefs but Mombasa will still welcome you with open arms.
Christians, Muslims, Theists, Pagans, and Hindus co-exist harmoniously with each other without chaos and conflicts.
If you are practicing a different religion from the locals, no one will bother you or ask you what you are doing as long as you don’t annoy anyone doing it.
What you should know is that the largest percentage of people living in Mombasa are Muslims. They are comprised of the coastal Bantus (Mijikenda and Swahili communities), Arabs, and Indians.
As I have been living in Mombasa I have been able to witness religious ceremonies being held openly and no one bothers to interfere with them.
The people that are practicing different religious practices only watch, learn, and appreciate these cultures which leads to creating good relationships between the locals.
I have seen Diwali ceremonies being held and even watched them and even observed how the Indians observe their practices in their temples and learned two to three things from them.
On Fridays, you will see so many Muslims going to the mosque to listen to the sermons and pray while other activities are still going on in the streets.
This is what makes Mombasa so incredible because you can learn so much from all these people practicing different religions.
The Arabians, Indians, Somalians, Swahilis, and Mijikenda are all one big happy family.
I have seen so many tourists (White tourists) buying houses and lands at scenic places in Mombasa and living with locals without any issues.
You are welcome in Mombasa it doesn’t matter what your race, ethnic group, or beliefs.
Mombasa accommodates different groups of people from every part of the world without issues.
That is why Mombasa is a truly good place to live if you are considering moving here.
Read also; 9 Things That Mombasa Is Best Known For
4. It’s the home of the beautiful beaches.
Mombasa is well known for its beautiful beaches; which are filled with crystal clear blue waters and white sands.
If you want to live closer to the beautiful beaches and get an amazing sea breeze during the day without having to spend so much, you should consider living in Mombasa.
You can have both at the same time. It doesn’t matter whether you decide to live on the Island or off of it, you will be able to access these beautiful because for free and easily.
If you are someone who enjoys the ocean, you will have the entire Indian Ocean at your disposal.
You won’t have to pay anything to get to most of these beaches. If you have some extra cash you can enjoy sailing across the Indian Ocean whenever you please.
The other thing you should know is, that if you live in Mombasa, you will be able to access one of the top beaches in the world (Diani Beach in Ukunda (Kwale county) south coast) which is a hot spot for international tourists visiting Kenya.
If you want to have access to all these beautiful beaches with amazing waters and sands, you should live in Mombasa.
Having all the beaches to yourself is enough for you to feel like you are living in a paradise.
You won’t even need to go to Maldives to feel you have seen it all. In Mombasa, you can get all these almost for free.
Live in Mombasa to take a dip in the ocean every time you feel like the weather is against you (it’s ever hot in Mombasa).
Mombasa is a paradise on earth if you want to explore it slowly and to the fullest.
Read also; Why Is Mombasa A Popular Tourist Destination? [11 Facts]
5. Mombasa offers both a party and a calm lifestyle.
If you want to live in Mombasa you don’t need to think too much of what you are going to lose.
Do you like partying? You will have it in Mombasa. If you want a calm and slow life in Mombasa, you can also get that.
And that is why I told you that Mombasa is ideal for anyone wanting to experience both lifestyles.
The good thing is that if you want to party there are a lot of amazing clubs that you can go to during weekends.
These are some of the best nightlife clubs you can visit in Mombasa;
- Club Mio’s.
- Tapas Cielo club.
- Mint Lounge.
- Moonshine Beach Bar.
Take yourself to the clubs have a thrilling weekend and go back home.
Mombasa offers both the party and calm lifestyle you want. It depends on your preferences.
If you want a calm lifestyle because you are not a party person like me, you can avoid it.
It’s not that you will be forced to indulge in the party lifestyle if it doesn’t fit you.
If you want to live next to a club, you can do that and always get yourself into the party vibe if that is the life you want to lead.
On the other side, if you hate the party lifestyle. You can choose to live far from the clubs. There are so many estates (like Kizingo, Nyali, and Tudor Nora) that you can choose to live in when you are in Mombasa, which are all far from the chaos of the cities.
6. It’s very easy to get around Mombasa town.
Another thing that makes Mombasa an amazing place for you to live is that it’s easier to get around.
You don’t need to stress yourself whenever you are going out to go shopping or going on a picnic to clear your head.
It’s easier to move around the streets of Mombasa; it doesn’t matter whether you choose to walk, use a taxi, tuk-tuk, or a matatu.
You can use a Tuktuk which is one of the common means of transport for people who want to get around Mombasa Island with ease.
The amazing thing is that you don’t need to pay so much for you to get rides on these tuk-tuks.
With $1 to $4, you can get around Mombasa town without a hassle.
Apart from that, the streets of Mombasa aren’t intimidating. They are very different from Nairobi.
For the first timers in Nairobi, to get around easily you will need to use Google Maps or find a guide to take you around the Nairobi CBD.
Which, you will also have to pay the guide who will be taking you around.
The streets in Mombasa aren’t that deep and it’s easier for you to trace your where.
For some, the streets might be confusing because most of the buildings on the island are blue and white.
But if you find a building and make it your landmark, you will never get lost strolling the streets of Mombasa.
I have never gotten lost on the Island, but I got lost several times when I was in Nairobi even when I was using Google Maps.
On the other hand, if you don’t know where you are going, you can get a motorcycle that can get you anywhere you want to go at a cheap price as long as you know the name of the place you are going.
Read also; My Experience Living In Mombasa (Insights From A Local)
7. It’s easier to start a thriving business in Mombasa.
If you are an entrepreneur Mombasa is the best place for you because of the diverse population living there.
The traffic is usually higher but it gets more intense during the festive seasons.
If you want to set up a store in Mombasa that is geared toward attracting the eyes of the locals and tourists visiting Mombasa it’s going to be easier for you to thrive in that section.
A good example are the Somalis that come from the neighboring country and settle in Mombasa, most of their business thrive because of the higher traffic.
So, if you are thinking of starting a business when you move to Mombasa you don’t have to worry about anything.
You only need to do your research thoroughly and find out what the locals and tourists would want to buy from you.
If you have a unique business module, you will gain so much income in Mombasa.
Another thing you can also do is take goods from Mombasa and sell them far away from Mombasa like Nairobi and Rift Valley, which will make you good profits because they will sell at a good price.
So many people have been doing this in Mombasa and making a good income from their business modules.
But if you aren’t interested in business and just want to live in Mombasa and work online, Mombasa has you covered.
The internet services are great (Safaricom), and at a reasonable price can get wi-Fi installed on your premises.
It’s not like other places in the world like Cuba, where you have to hassle for the internet services.
8. You can easily intermingle with the locals.
It’s easier to make friends and even end up meeting your soul mate in Mombasa because of how welcoming the locals are.
When you live in Mombasa you won’t feel lonely and discriminated against because of your race or ethnic group.
It doesn’t matter where you are from, the people in Mombasa will welcome you with open arms.
There will be so many people who will smile at you, say hi to you, and even want to get to know you better.
I am not saying that you won’t come across some isolated individuals who will want to take advantage of you.
Read also; How To Stay Safe When Travelling In Mombasa (Kenya)
I believe you know that these kinds of people exist everywhere.
What makes Mombasa people so welcoming is that they are living around people from different parts of the country and world, they come across a lot of tourists it is something normal to them and they are willing to learn something new from the people they meet.
So, if you want to make friends and even meet your boyfriend or girlfriend in Mombasa, you can do that without any problems.
No one will push you away because you are not from there. In most of the places you will visit in Mombasa, you will feel welcome and wanted.
If you want to learn their stories, they will open up to you and even welcome you into their homes.
“Mombasa Raha” is the term you will hear frequently, it means Mombasa is full of happiness and fun.
If you want to move and live in Mombasa, all the things I have shared in this article, show how incredible it is to live there.
Lastly…
Although I have shared an amazing picture of Mombasa Kenya, you also need to know that there are some issues too.
Read also; Is It Safe To Walk In Mombasa, Kenya?
Mombasa is hot, if this kind of climate doesn’t align well with you it will be an issue.
The other issue; you have to know that Mombasa has a tropical climate, you should expect mosquitoes, which means malaria cases are higher in Mombasa.
You have to take measures to prevent yourself from it.
The other thing is that Mombasa isn’t always safe, especially in isolated areas like Kisauni, Bamburi, and Likoni. These are some of the areas you will have to avoid strolling alone even in the daylight.
Anyway, no place you choose to live will be perfect, they all have some issues. I hope I have helped you make a sound decision when it comes to whether to live in Mombasa or anywhere else you prefer.
Related reads;
