Cost of Living Comparison Between Garissa and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Garissa and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Garissa vs $630 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $657 per month in Garissa vs $1,038 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $938 per month in Garissa vs $1,446 in Kilifi, rent included.

Garissa is about 40% cheaper than Kilifi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Garissa and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Garissa 73% lower, Kilifi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 KES 1,512

$1.96 KES 254

496.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 KES 3,005

$49.48 KES 6,402

-53.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

Cappuccino

$7.79 KES 1,008

$1.96 KES 254

297.45%

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

$1.97 KES 255

$0.81 KES 104

143.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 KES 148

$0.75 KES 96.7

52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 KES 202

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 KES 67.0

$1.09 KES 141

-52.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 KES 76.7

$0.83 KES 108

-28.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 186

$2.06 KES 267

-30.10%

Eggs

$1.92 KES 248

$1.93 KES 250

-0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KES 822

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.36 KES 694

$7.95 KES 1,028

-32.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 KES 511

$2.34 KES 303

68.80%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$0.72 KES 93.2

323.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 KES 584

$1.72 KES 223

162.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 KES 95.9

$0.48 KES 61.7

54.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 KES 162

$0.80 KES 104

56.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 KES 201

$0.78 KES 101

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 KES 298

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 66.5

$0.24 KES 31.05

112.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.89 KES 762

$12.50 KES 1,617

-52.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 KES 217

$1.72 KES 223

-2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 KES 490

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 KES 3,485

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 178

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

$15.34 KES 1,985

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

$10.23 KES 1,323

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 KES 3,246

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.14 KES 3,641

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 KES 971

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

$161 KES 20.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,960 KES 641.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.61 KES 1,243

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,172

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 KES 1,983

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.41 KES 2,252

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 KES 42.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 KES 35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 KES 72.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$132 KES 17.1K

$228 KES 29.4K

-41.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Garissa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 72% higher in Kilifi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Garissa versus $49.00 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Garissa vs $125 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Garissa vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $376 in Garissa, $630 in Kilifi – roughly 67% apart. Kilifi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $564 per month in Garissa and $944 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Garissa and $49.00 in Kilifi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $376 in Garissa and $630 in Kilifi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $376 in Garissa and $630 in Kilifi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Garissa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Garissa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kilifi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.