Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kilifi: $647 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kilifi
🇰🇪 Kenya
$647
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kilifi and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kilifi and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Kilifi versus $934 in Cebu.

  • Kilifi $647
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,054 in Kilifi versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • Kilifi $1,054
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,461 in Kilifi versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • Kilifi $1,461
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in Kilifi costs roughly 31% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 52% lower, Cebu 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.91 KES 247
$3.03 ₱190
-36.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 KES 6,543
$23.48 ₱1,473
114.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.24 KES 291
$4.09 ₱256
-45.23%
Cappuccino
$1.89 KES 246
$2.52 ₱158
-25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 KES 104
$1.54 ₱96.9
-48.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 96.4
$0.49 ₱30.98
51.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 KES 205
$1.79 ₱112
-11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.26 ₱142
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 KES 135
$1.95 ₱122
-46.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 KES 115
$1.43 ₱89.7
-38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 KES 258
$1.02 ₱63.8
95.10%
Eggs
$1.98 KES 257
$2.06 ₱129
-3.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.81 ₱615
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$4.61 ₱289
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.64 KES 991
$7.70 ₱483
-0.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 KES 304
$3.31 ₱207
-29.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 KES 87.6
$1.45 ₱90.9
-53.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 KES 225
$2.36 ₱148
-26.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.45 KES 58.1
$1.54 ₱96.4
-70.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 KES 98.3
$2.36 ₱148
-67.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 KES 95.3
$1.99 ₱125
-63.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.15 ₱72.1
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 KES 31.22
$0.67 ₱42.15
-64.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.00 ₱188
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.47 KES 1,618
$6.35 ₱398
96.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 KES 222
$1.31 ₱81.9
30.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.73 ₱108
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 KES 104
$0.25 ₱15.78
220.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.29 KES 3,540
$12.65 ₱793
115.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.74 ₱46.32
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.21 ₱13.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.33 ₱271
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 KES 171
$1.33 ₱83.5
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.8K ₱1.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$19.4K ₱1.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.59 KES 2,022
$121 ₱7,563
-87.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.34 KES 1,341
$14.45 ₱907
-28.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.07 KES 3,251
$28.29 ₱1,774
-11.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.64 KES 3,584
$32.68 ₱2,050
-15.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.39 ₱401
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.63 KES 989
$5.46 ₱342
39.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 KES 21.3K
$273 ₱17.1K
-39.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,927 KES 639.0K
$8,156 ₱511.5K
-39.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.82 KES 1,273
$49.57 ₱3,109
-80.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.62 KES 1,118
$24.87 ₱1,560
-65.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.27 KES 1,981
$76.6 ₱4,804
-80.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$17.15 KES 2,225
$59.3 ₱3,717
-71.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$322 KES 41.7K
$506 ₱31.7K
-36.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 KES 39.4K
$309 ₱19.4K
-1.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 KES 35.2K
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-74.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$553 KES 71.7K
$619 ₱38.8K
-10.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kilifi
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$228 KES 29.6K
$341 ₱21.4K
-33.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
7.2
11.11%

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

Last update for Kilifi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$309
Groceries & Markets
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$210
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$163
Clothing & Footwear
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$95
Eating Out
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$88
Sport & Entertainment
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$44
Getting Around
Kilifi
–
Cebu
$15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $322 in Kilifi and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 50% 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: $50.0 in Kilifi vs $23.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $123 vs $210, with Kilifi cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Kilifi
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
06:13 6:13 AM
11:13 11:13 AM
5 h ahead of Kilifi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
122,899
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 145 KES (1,000 KES = 6.87 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kilifi Cebu 9,430 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kilifi
  • Cebu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kilifi vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Kilifi?
Kilifi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kilifi or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Cebu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kilifi and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $322 in Kilifi versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Kilifi and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Kilifi versus $934 in Cebu – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kilifi runs roughly 116% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Kilifi or Cebu?
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.
Is Kilifi or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Kilifi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kilifi or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Kilifi and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kilifi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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