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: $489 in Kiambu versus $436 in Kilifi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $759 in Kiambu versus $782 in Kilifi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Kiambu versus $1,128 in Kilifi.

Living in Kiambu is roughly 12% more expensive than in Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kiambu 63% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 KES 403

$2.25 KES 291

38.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.07 KES 2,464

$50.9 KES 6,573

-62.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 KES 613

$2.30 KES 297

106.09%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 246

$1.90 KES 246

0.53%

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

$0.50 KES 64.3

$0.74 KES 95.8

-32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KES 47.13

$0.78 KES 101

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 KES 224

$1.98 KES 256

-12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 302

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 KES 82.5

$0.88 KES 114

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.2

$0.81 KES 104

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KES 214

$1.90 KES 246

-12.63%

Eggs

$1.29 KES 167

$1.80 KES 233

-28.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.83 KES 1,529

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 KES 874

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.17 KES 539

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 KES 395

$2.31 KES 298

32.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.85 KES 109

25.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.83 KES 236

-55.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 KES 76.8

$0.66 KES 84.7

-10.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 KES 75.6

$0.64 KES 83.0

-7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$0.64 KES 82.4

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 KES 41.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 KES 48.13

$0.24 KES 31.15

54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 389

Wine (Bottle)

$11.50 KES 1,486

$12.82 KES 1,656

-10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 KES 297

$1.95 KES 253

17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 KES 72.1

$0.78 KES 101

-28.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 KES 3,559

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 197

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 KES 52.6

$0.80 KES 103

-48.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 KES 366

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 196

$1.37 KES 177

10.95%

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)

$19.9K KES 2.6M

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

$28.46 KES 3,678

$15.61 KES 2,017

82.32%

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

$7.90 KES 1,021

$10.28 KES 1,329

-23.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.86 KES 3,729

$25.26 KES 3,263

14.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.68 KES 1,509

$28.03 KES 3,622

-58.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 KES 767

$7.62 KES 985

-22.18%

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

$201 KES 26.0K

$162 KES 20.9K

24.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,976 KES 1.0M

$5,072 KES 655.3K

57.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$6.26 KES 809

$9.52 KES 1,229

-34.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.57 KES 3,045

$8.67 KES 1,121

171.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.87 KES 3,472

$15.59 KES 2,014

72.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.47 KES 3,937

$17.13 KES 2,213

77.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 KES 15.1K

$177 KES 22.8K

-34.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 KES 12.0K

$113 KES 14.6K

-17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 KES 24.7K

$275 KES 35.5K

-30.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 KES 19.3K

$266 KES 34.4K

-43.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 KES 149.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$123 KES 15.9K

$235 KES 30.4K

-47.61%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Kiambu and $177 in Kilifi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilifi pays 91% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kiambu vs $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 91% 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 $177 in Kilifi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $201 in Kiambu versus $162 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 $19.00 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 12% less than in Kiambu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.