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: $498 in Embu versus $436 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Embu versus $782 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Embu versus $1,128 in Kilifi.

Living in Embu is roughly 14% more expensive than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Embu 63% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 KES 684

$2.25 KES 291

135.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.17 KES 4,027

$50.9 KES 6,573

-38.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 KES 686

$2.30 KES 297

130.87%

Cappuccino

$2.26 KES 292

$1.90 KES 246

18.95%

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

$0.33 KES 43.04

$0.74 KES 95.8

-55.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.38

$0.78 KES 101

-71.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 293

$1.98 KES 256

14.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 KES 382

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 KES 66.5

$0.88 KES 114

-42.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.0

$0.81 KES 104

-35.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 KES 122

$1.90 KES 246

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.71 KES 221

$1.80 KES 233

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.83 KES 495

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 KES 526

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 391

$2.31 KES 298

31.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.85 KES 109

22.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 KES 268

$1.83 KES 236

13.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.40 KES 51.8

$0.66 KES 84.7

-39.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 87.2

$0.64 KES 83.0

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 KES 117

$0.64 KES 82.4

40.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 84.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 KES 68.4

$0.24 KES 31.15

120.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 KES 403

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 KES 1,508

$12.82 KES 1,656

-8.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 KES 295

$1.95 KES 253

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 359

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 KES 154

$0.78 KES 101

52.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 KES 3,559

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 KES 196

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$0.80 KES 103

96.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 383

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 KES 186

$1.37 KES 177

5.11%

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)

$12.3K KES 1.6M

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

$34.82 KES 4,498

$15.61 KES 2,017

123.06%

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

$16.52 KES 2,134

$10.28 KES 1,329

60.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.04 KES 4,915

$25.26 KES 3,263

50.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.29 KES 2,234

$28.03 KES 3,622

-38.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 KES 543

$7.62 KES 985

-44.88%

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

$199 KES 25.7K

$162 KES 20.9K

23.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,200 KES 1.1M

$5,072 KES 655.3K

61.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.43 KES 1,218

$9.52 KES 1,229

-0.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.50 KES 3,166

$8.67 KES 1,121

182.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 KES 8,500

$15.59 KES 2,014

322.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.59 KES 2,014

$17.13 KES 2,213

-8.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 KES 10.1K

$177 KES 22.8K

-55.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$55.1 KES 7,115

$113 KES 14.6K

-51.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.5 KES 12.1K

$266 KES 34.4K

-64.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 KES 34.6K

$235 KES 30.4K

13.93%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $77.8 in Embu and $177 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Embu pays 14% 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 $146 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 14% in total monthly costs ($498 vs $436 including rent). Kilifi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Embu, 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: $77.8 in Embu versus $177 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $199 in Embu versus $162 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 14% less than in Embu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.