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: $500 in Eldoret versus $650 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Eldoret versus $1,067 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,232 in Eldoret versus $1,484 in Kilifi.

Living in Eldoret costs roughly 23% less than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 63% lower, Kilifi 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.59 KES 205

$1.97 KES 256

-19.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.83 KES 4,509

$49.71 KES 6,435

-29.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 KES 807

$2.35 KES 304

165.53%

Cappuccino

$2.81 KES 363

$1.87 KES 243

50.27%

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

$0.30 KES 38.27

$0.78 KES 101

-61.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KES 49.06

$0.74 KES 96.2

-48.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.52 KES 197

50.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 KES 87.3

$1.04 KES 134

-35.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 KES 60.0

$0.88 KES 115

-47.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 KES 199

$1.99 KES 258

-23.12%

Eggs

$1.57 KES 204

$1.92 KES 248

-18.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 KES 512

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 KES 541

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 KES 554

$7.52 KES 974

-43.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KES 304

$2.27 KES 294

3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.71 KES 92.0

46.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 KES 85.9

$1.79 KES 232

-63.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 KES 113

$0.44 KES 56.7

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 73.0

$0.76 KES 97.9

-26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 KES 58.2

$0.80 KES 104

-43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 KES 78.8

$0.24 KES 31.12

154.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 KES 456

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 KES 770

$12.64 KES 1,636

-52.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 KES 262

$1.71 KES 221

18.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 KES 202

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 KES 185

$0.76 KES 98.1

88.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.90 KES 3,482

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 KES 190

$1.37 KES 178

7.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K KES 2.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.6K KES 2.7M

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

$39.60 KES 5,126

$15.32 KES 1,984

158.49%

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

$15.71 KES 2,034

$10.48 KES 1,357

49.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.72 KES 4,624

$25.09 KES 3,249

42.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 KES 4,948

$28.20 KES 3,651

35.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 KES 640

$7.89 KES 1,022

-37.39%

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

$65.6 KES 8,489

$159 KES 20.6K

-58.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$5,045 KES 653.0K

127.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.68 KES 1,512

$9.83 KES 1,272

18.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.55 KES 3,566

$8.82 KES 1,141

212.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 KES 2,541

$15.72 KES 2,035

24.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.18 KES 4,554

$17.19 KES 2,225

104.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.2 KES 12.2K

$332 KES 43.0K

-71.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 KES 11.4K

$313 KES 40.5K

-71.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 KES 35.5K

$558 KES 72.3K

-50.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$625 KES 81.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 KES 30.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

83.88%

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

Last update for Eldoret: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $94.2 in Eldoret and $332 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Eldoret vs $50.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $132 vs $123, 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

Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Kilifi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $750 in Eldoret and $975 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $94.2 in Eldoret versus $332 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kilifi pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $500 per month in Eldoret versus $650 in Kilifi – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Eldoret gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.