Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $501 in Isiolo versus $430 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Isiolo versus $770 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,134 in Isiolo versus $1,110 in Kilifi.

Living in Isiolo is roughly 16% more expensive than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 KES 713

$2.27 KES 294

142.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.58 KES 3,955

$50.9 KES 6,581

-39.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 KES 505

$2.37 KES 307

64.56%

Cappuccino

$2.35 KES 304

$1.91 KES 247

23.04%

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

$0.28 KES 36.52

$0.80 KES 103

-65.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.31

$0.76 KES 98.0

-71.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 KES 291

$1.89 KES 244

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 370

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.88 KES 114

-2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 KES 57.8

$0.75 KES 97.0

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KES 214

$1.96 KES 254

-15.82%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$1.88 KES 243

-24.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,518

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 KES 865

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 KES 715

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 KES 399

$2.28 KES 295

35.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.90 KES 117

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$1.79 KES 232

21.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.70 KES 90.1

51.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.64 KES 82.4

67.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$0.60 KES 77.4

88.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$0.24 KES 31.20

212.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 393

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 KES 1,504

$12.57 KES 1,625

-7.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 KES 284

$1.97 KES 255

11.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 KES 195

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$0.76 KES 97.9

98.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 KES 182

$1.31 KES 170

6.87%

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)

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$35.01 KES 4,527

$15.25 KES 1,972

129.57%

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

$16.69 KES 2,158

$10.26 KES 1,326

62.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.05 KES 5,050

$24.87 KES 3,217

57.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.59 KES 3,568

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 KES 789

$7.57 KES 979

-19.42%

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

$203 KES 26.2K

$163 KES 21.0K

24.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,151 KES 1.1M

$4,961 KES 641.5K

64.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.05 KES 2,334

$9.76 KES 1,263

84.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.24 KES 3,135

$9.06 KES 1,172

167.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 KES 8,295

$15.31 KES 1,980

318.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 KES 7,305

$17.27 KES 2,234

227.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 KES 34.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 KES 100.4K

$228 KES 29.5K

240.37%

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 Isiolo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 240% 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 Isiolo vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 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

Isiolo vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kilifi wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Isiolo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kilifi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Isiolo pays 240% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 103% higher in Isiolo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $501 per month in Isiolo versus $430 in Kilifi – a 16% 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 16% less than in Isiolo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.