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: $540 in Eldoret versus $433 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Eldoret versus $769 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,329 in Eldoret versus $1,105 in Kilifi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 25% more expensive than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 59% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 KES 689

$2.38 KES 308

123.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.65 KES 4,995

$50.6 KES 6,545

-23.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 KES 862

$2.37 KES 306

181.43%

Cappuccino

$2.44 KES 315

$1.88 KES 243

29.79%

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

$0.75 KES 97.3

$0.78 KES 101

-3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.9

$0.78 KES 101

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 KES 304

$1.98 KES 257

18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 372

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 KES 97.7

$0.91 KES 117

-16.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.3

$0.74 KES 96.2

-36.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 KES 159

$1.95 KES 252

-36.92%

Eggs

$1.58 KES 204

$1.87 KES 242

-15.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 KES 507

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 KES 474

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.30 KES 556

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 KES 390

$2.35 KES 304

28.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 KES 112

$0.88 KES 114

-1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 KES 213

$1.76 KES 227

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.65 KES 84.3

61.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 72.3

$0.63 KES 81.9

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.59 KES 76.8

50.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 KES 83.6

$0.24 KES 31.21

170.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 KES 731

$12.94 KES 1,673

-56.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 KES 228

$1.98 KES 256

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 KES 205

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 KES 176

$0.73 KES 94.9

86.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.39 KES 3,540

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$0.76 KES 97.6

106.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 201

$1.31 KES 169

18.32%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$33.69 KES 4,354

$15.64 KES 2,021

115.41%

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

$17.12 KES 2,213

$10.15 KES 1,312

68.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,110

$24.82 KES 3,208

59.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.33 KES 4,954

$27.43 KES 3,545

39.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 KES 640

$7.84 KES 1,014

-36.86%

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

$63.4 KES 8,191

$161 KES 20.9K

-60.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,183 KES 1.1M

$5,004 KES 646.7K

63.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.47 KES 1,482

$9.41 KES 1,216

21.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.98 KES 3,099

$9.04 KES 1,169

165.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.64 KES 2,539

$15.65 KES 2,023

25.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.13 KES 4,411

$17.33 KES 2,240

96.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$94.5 KES 12.2K

$177 KES 22.9K

-46.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.6 KES 11.7K

$115 KES 14.8K

-21.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 KES 35.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

$262 KES 33.8K

1.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$610 KES 78.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 KES 29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

50.00%

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

Last update for Eldoret: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $94.5 in Eldoret and $177 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Eldoret vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $136 vs $101, 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

Kilifi wins on cost – living expenses run 25% 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.

You'd need roughly $810 in Eldoret and $650 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: $94.5 in Eldoret versus $177 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Eldoret. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $540 per month in Eldoret versus $433 in Kilifi – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 Kilifi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.