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: $529 in Eldoret versus $438 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $935 in Eldoret versus $786 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in Eldoret versus $1,133 in Kilifi.

Living in Eldoret is roughly 21% more expensive than Kilifi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Eldoret 61% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 KES 699

$2.31 KES 299

133.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.45 KES 4,985

$50.9 KES 6,596

-24.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 KES 909

$2.33 KES 302

200.86%

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 323

$1.96 KES 254

27.04%

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

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.74 KES 96.4

1.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.5

$0.76 KES 98.5

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 KES 294

$1.91 KES 248

18.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 KES 370

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 KES 91.2

$0.95 KES 123

-26.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 KES 61.2

$0.76 KES 99.0

-38.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 KES 154

$1.96 KES 254

-39.80%

Eggs

$1.58 KES 204

$1.80 KES 234

-12.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 KES 498

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 KES 473

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.14 KES 537

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 KES 410

$2.37 KES 307

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.85 KES 110

3.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 KES 214

$1.82 KES 236

-9.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.69 KES 89.3

50.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 KES 66.9

$0.68 KES 87.7

-23.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 KES 109

$0.61 KES 79.1

37.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 KES 87.8

$0.24 KES 31.13

183.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 KES 413

Wine (Bottle)

$5.65 KES 733

$12.87 KES 1,669

-56.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 224

$1.90 KES 247

-9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 KES 199

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 KES 175

$0.78 KES 102

73.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.17 KES 3,522

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 KES 202

$0.75 KES 97.1

108.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 KES 380

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 KES 191

$1.38 KES 179

7.25%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$34.23 KES 4,438

$15.41 KES 1,998

122.13%

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

$16.98 KES 2,202

$10.15 KES 1,317

67.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.36 KES 5,103

$25.30 KES 3,280

55.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.19 KES 4,952

$27.30 KES 3,540

39.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 KES 655

$7.55 KES 978

-33.11%

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

$63.2 KES 8,196

$163 KES 21.1K

-61.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,903 KES 1.0M

$5,121 KES 664.0K

54.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.69 KES 1,516

$9.77 KES 1,266

19.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.05 KES 3,119

$8.95 KES 1,161

168.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.24 KES 2,495

$15.25 KES 1,977

26.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.23 KES 4,568

$17.63 KES 2,286

99.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.4 KES 11.9K

$178 KES 23.1K

-48.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 KES 11.4K

$113 KES 14.7K

-22.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 KES 34.8K

$261 KES 33.8K

2.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$624 KES 81.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$236 KES 30.7K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.4 in Eldoret and $178 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Eldoret vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 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 21% 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 $793 in Eldoret and $657 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: $91.4 in Eldoret versus $178 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Eldoret. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $529 per month in Eldoret versus $438 in Kilifi – a 21% 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 21% less than in Eldoret. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.