Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Eldoret and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Eldoret versus $434 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $940 in Eldoret versus $768 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,340 in Eldoret versus $1,102 in Kilifi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 24% more expensive than Kilifi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 60% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.54 KES 715
$2.27 KES 293
144.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.10 KES 4,917
$50.2 KES 6,475
-24.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.95 KES 898
$2.38 KES 308
192.02%
Cappuccino
$2.44 KES 315
$1.95 KES 251
25.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 95.7
$0.79 KES 102
-6.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 69.5
$0.81 KES 104
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 KES 293
$1.96 KES 254
15.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 KES 368
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 KES 90.4
$0.87 KES 113
-19.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 KES 61.8
$0.81 KES 104
-40.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 KES 160
$1.90 KES 246
-34.74%
Eggs
$1.64 KES 212
$1.89 KES 244
-13.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.97 KES 512
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 KES 470
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.17 KES 538
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 KES 407
$2.27 KES 293
38.77%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 KES 114
$0.87 KES 113
2.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 KES 211
$1.75 KES 226
-6.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 KES 135
$0.66 KES 84.7
57.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 KES 72.4
$0.63 KES 81.1
-11.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 KES 115
$0.60 KES 77.1
48.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 KES 84.2
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 KES 82.3
$0.24 KES 31.13
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17 KES 409
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 KES 766
$11.49 KES 1,483
-48.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 KES 218
$1.97 KES 254
-14.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 KES 203
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 KES 177
$0.75 KES 97.1
82.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.89 KES 3,471
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 KES 203
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 KES 196
$0.80 KES 103
90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 KES 381
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.36 KES 176
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K KES 2.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K KES 2.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.93 KES 4,380
$15.69 KES 2,026
116.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.66 KES 2,150
$10.29 KES 1,328
61.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.81 KES 5,009
$25.10 KES 3,239
54.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.19 KES 4,929
$27.31 KES 3,525
39.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.15 KES 664
$7.90 KES 1,020
-34.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$65.5 KES 8,450
$161 KES 20.7K
-59.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,025 KES 1.0M
$5,109 KES 659.5K
57.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.66 KES 1,504
$9.50 KES 1,226
22.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.97 KES 3,094
$8.66 KES 1,117
176.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.57 KES 2,526
$15.32 KES 1,977
27.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.63 KES 4,469
$17.73 KES 2,288
95.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$91.6 KES 11.8K
$173 KES 22.4K
-47.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$90.6 KES 11.7K
$113 KES 14.6K
-19.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$267 KES 34.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 KES 34.6K
$262 KES 33.9K
2.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$627 KES 80.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eldoret
Kilifi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$236 KES 30.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
8
50.00%

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

Last update for Eldoret: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.6 in Eldoret and $173 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Eldoret vs $50.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $136 vs $98.0, with Kilifi cheaper for home cooking.

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
Eldoret vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eldoret or Kilifi?
Kilifi wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Eldoret. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kilifi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Eldoret vs Kilifi?
You'd need roughly $809 in Eldoret and $651 in Kilifi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eldoret vs Kilifi?
Rent for a central apartment: $91.6 in Eldoret versus $173 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Eldoret or Kilifi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Eldoret. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Eldoret compared to Kilifi?
All in, you'll spend $539 per month in Eldoret versus $434 in Kilifi – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Eldoret or Kilifi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kilifi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Eldoret or Kilifi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kilifi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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