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: $514 in Isiolo versus $630 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $840 in Isiolo versus $1,038 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Isiolo versus $1,446 in Kilifi.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 18% less than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Isiolo 63% lower, Kilifi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 510

$1.96 KES 254

101.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.21 KES 4,555

$49.48 KES 6,401

-28.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 KES 814

$2.37 KES 307

165.40%

Cappuccino

$2.73 KES 354

$1.96 KES 254

39.29%

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

$0.56 KES 72.1

$0.81 KES 104

-30.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 KES 71.4

$0.75 KES 96.7

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 KES 298

$1.56 KES 202

47.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 357

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 110

$1.09 KES 141

-22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.9

$0.83 KES 108

-32.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 KES 239

$2.06 KES 267

-10.19%

Eggs

$1.72 KES 222

$1.93 KES 250

-10.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 KES 1,323

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 KES 799

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.33 KES 819

$7.95 KES 1,028

-20.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 KES 423

$2.34 KES 303

39.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$0.72 KES 93.2

40.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 KES 264

$1.72 KES 223

18.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 KES 145

$0.48 KES 61.7

133.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.80 KES 104

36.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.78 KES 101

34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 KES 93.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 99.6

$0.24 KES 31.05

220.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 KES 461

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 KES 1,482

$12.50 KES 1,617

-8.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 KES 299

$1.72 KES 223

34.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 KES 3,485

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 201

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 380

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.38 KES 178

-0.72%

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

$20.6K KES 2.7M

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)

$61.9 KES 8,002

$15.34 KES 1,985

303.19%

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

$15.31 KES 1,981

$10.23 KES 1,323

49.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.94 KES 4,520

$25.09 KES 3,246

39.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.14 KES 3,640

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 KES 982

$7.51 KES 971

1.07%

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

$236 KES 30.6K

$161 KES 20.8K

47.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$4,960 KES 641.7K

131.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.78 KES 3,464

$9.61 KES 1,243

178.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.71 KES 3,327

$9.06 KES 1,172

183.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 KES 8,239

$15.33 KES 1,983

315.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 KES 7,663

$17.41 KES 2,252

240.21%

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)

$762 KES 98.6K

$228 KES 29.4K

235.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

83.88%

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

Last update for Isiolo: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 235% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Isiolo vs $49.00 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $125, 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

Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Kilifi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 235% higher in Isiolo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Kilifi pay roughly 62% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $514 per month in Isiolo versus $630 in Kilifi – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Isiolo 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 Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.