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: $486 in Kiambu versus $430 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Kiambu versus $770 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,014 in Kiambu versus $1,110 in Kilifi.

Living in Kiambu is roughly 13% more expensive than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kiambu 64% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 KES 410

$2.27 KES 294

39.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.55 KES 2,533

$50.9 KES 6,593

-61.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 KES 589

$2.37 KES 307

91.98%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 247

$1.91 KES 248

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

$0.54 KES 70.2

$0.80 KES 103

-32.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KES 43.48

$0.76 KES 98.2

-55.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 KES 228

$1.89 KES 245

-6.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 KES 293

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 KES 88.3

$0.88 KES 114

-22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.1

$0.75 KES 97.2

-29.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KES 216

$1.96 KES 254

-15.31%

Eggs

$1.36 KES 176

$1.88 KES 243

-27.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,522

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 KES 848

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 KES 537

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 KES 394

$2.28 KES 295

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.90 KES 117

21.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 KES 102

$1.79 KES 232

-56.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 KES 72.7

$0.70 KES 90.2

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 KES 70.7

$0.64 KES 82.5

-14.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.5

$0.60 KES 77.6

26.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 KES 41.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 KES 52.0

$0.24 KES 31.25

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 390

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 KES 1,481

$12.57 KES 1,628

-9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 KES 284

$1.97 KES 255

11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 362

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 KES 72.1

$0.75 KES 97.6

-25.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,464

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 207

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.56

$0.76 KES 98.1

-51.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 KES 369

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.31 KES 170

16.79%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

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

$19.7K KES 2.6M

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

$28.59 KES 3,704

$15.25 KES 1,976

87.48%

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

$7.60 KES 984

$10.26 KES 1,329

-25.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.32 KES 3,799

$24.87 KES 3,222

17.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.59 KES 1,502

$27.59 KES 3,574

-57.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 KES 731

$7.57 KES 981

-25.50%

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

$204 KES 26.5K

$163 KES 21.1K

25.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,097 KES 1.0M

$4,961 KES 642.6K

63.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.24 KES 808

$9.76 KES 1,265

-36.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.84 KES 3,088

$9.06 KES 1,174

163.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.40 KES 3,550

$15.31 KES 1,984

78.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.38 KES 3,936

$17.27 KES 2,238

75.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 KES 14.9K

$177 KES 22.9K

-34.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.7 KES 12.0K

$114 KES 14.7K

-18.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 KES 24.8K

$266 KES 34.5K

-28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 KES 18.9K

$269 KES 34.8K

-45.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,137 KES 147.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 KES 15.8K

$228 KES 29.5K

-46.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

37.50%

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

Last update for Kiambu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $115 in Kiambu and $177 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilifi pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kiambu vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 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

Kiambu vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kilifi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kilifi earns 87% less. 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: $115 in Kiambu versus $177 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $204 in Kiambu versus $163 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 $20.00 in Kiambu. 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 13% less than in Kiambu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.