Cost of Living Comparison Between Embu and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Embu and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $494 in Embu versus $430 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $793 in Embu versus $770 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,092 in Embu versus $1,110 in Kilifi.

Living in Embu is roughly 15% more expensive than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Embu 63% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 KES 710

$2.27 KES 294

141.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.25 KES 4,049

$50.9 KES 6,593

-38.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 KES 707

$2.37 KES 307

130.38%

Cappuccino

$2.27 KES 295

$1.91 KES 248

18.85%

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

$0.33 KES 43.20

$0.80 KES 103

-58.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.32

$0.76 KES 98.2

-71.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 KES 308

$1.89 KES 245

25.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 KES 383

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 KES 72.7

$0.88 KES 114

-36.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 KES 63.4

$0.75 KES 97.2

-34.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 KES 124

$1.96 KES 254

-51.53%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

$1.88 KES 243

-9.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.89 KES 504

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 KES 422

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 KES 547

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 KES 405

$2.28 KES 295

37.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.90 KES 117

21.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 KES 268

$1.79 KES 232

15.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.40 KES 52.4

$0.70 KES 90.2

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 KES 81.8

$0.64 KES 82.5

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 KES 118

$0.60 KES 77.6

51.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.1

$0.24 KES 31.25

116.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 KES 403

Wine (Bottle)

$11.69 KES 1,514

$12.57 KES 1,628

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 297

$1.97 KES 255

16.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 361

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 KES 149

$0.75 KES 97.6

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,464

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 197

$0.76 KES 98.1

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 KES 378

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 KES 193

$1.31 KES 170

13.74%

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

$21.3K KES 2.8M

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

$12.6K KES 1.6M

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

$34.28 KES 4,441

$15.25 KES 1,976

124.79%

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

$16.91 KES 2,190

$10.26 KES 1,329

64.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.94 KES 4,915

$24.87 KES 3,222

52.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.66 KES 2,288

$27.59 KES 3,574

-35.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 KES 558

$7.57 KES 981

-43.06%

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

$201 KES 26.0K

$163 KES 21.1K

23.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 KES 1.0M

$4,961 KES 642.6K

61.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.36 KES 1,213

$9.76 KES 1,265

-4.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.63 KES 3,062

$9.06 KES 1,174

160.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 KES 8,548

$15.31 KES 1,984

330.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.35 KES 1,989

$17.27 KES 2,238

-11.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$76.2 KES 9,868

$177 KES 22.9K

-56.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$55.2 KES 7,153

$114 KES 14.7K

-51.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 KES 12.0K

$269 KES 34.8K

-65.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 KES 35.0K

$228 KES 29.5K

18.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

85.50%

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

Last update for Embu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.2 in Embu and $177 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Embu pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Embu vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $147 vs $100, 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

Embu vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Embu and Kilifi differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($494 vs $430 including rent). Kilifi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Embu pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $76.2 in Embu versus $177 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $201 in Embu versus $163 in Kilifi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kilifi – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $31.00 in Embu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 15% less than in Embu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.