Cost of Living Comparison Between Kiambu and Kilifi Cost of Living Comparison Between Kiambu and Kilifi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $474 in Kiambu versus $629 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Kiambu versus $1,041 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,075 in Kiambu versus $1,453 in Kilifi.

Living in Kiambu costs roughly 25% less than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kiambu 66% lower, Kilifi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 KES 513

$1.94 KES 251

104.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.24 KES 4,427

$51.1 KES 6,612

-33.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 KES 777

$2.36 KES 305

154.66%

Cappuccino

$2.71 KES 350

$1.91 KES 247

41.88%

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

$0.55 KES 71.3

$0.75 KES 97.3

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.7

$0.78 KES 101

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.57 KES 203

45.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 KES 344

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 KES 69.6

$1.08 KES 140

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 65.3

$0.83 KES 108

-39.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 KES 244

$2.06 KES 266

-8.25%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$2.01 KES 259

-29.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 KES 1,363

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 814

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.07 KES 526

$7.60 KES 983

-46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

$2.34 KES 302

38.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$0.72 KES 93.2

40.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.8

$1.74 KES 224

-56.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.0

$0.48 KES 61.7

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KES 88.4

$0.73 KES 94.7

-6.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 KES 93.9

$0.73 KES 94.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 KES 38.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 52.0

$0.24 KES 31.20

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 KES 447

Wine (Bottle)

$11.74 KES 1,518

$12.83 KES 1,659

-8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.77 KES 230

29.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 KES 87.6

$0.75 KES 96.7

-9.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.68 KES 3,450

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 KES 204

$1.36 KES 176

15.44%

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$60.0 KES 7,754

$15.56 KES 2,012

285.41%

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

$7.74 KES 1,001

$10.48 KES 1,355

-26.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.57 KES 4,599

$25.00 KES 3,233

42.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.21 KES 3,648

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 KES 759

$7.60 KES 983

-22.76%

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

$243 KES 31.4K

$161 KES 20.8K

50.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$5,048 KES 652.7K

126.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.69 KES 3,451

$9.46 KES 1,224

182.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 KES 3,343

$9.01 KES 1,164

187.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 KES 8,269

$15.20 KES 1,966

320.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 KES 7,882

$17.51 KES 2,264

248.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 KES 15.1K

$333 KES 43.0K

-64.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 KES 40.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 KES 35.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 KES 72.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 KES 148.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 KES 15.8K

$231 KES 29.8K

-47.03%

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 Kiambu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Kiambu and $333 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilifi pays 89% 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: $34.00 in Kiambu vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 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

Kiambu vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kiambu is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 89% lower in Kilifi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Kiambu versus $333 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $243 in Kiambu versus $161 in Kilifi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kiambu – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $51.0 in Kilifi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kiambu 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 Kiambu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.