Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Eldoret Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Eldoret

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Kilifi versus $500 in Eldoret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,067 in Kilifi versus $866 in Eldoret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Kilifi versus $1,232 in Eldoret.

Living in Kilifi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Eldoret, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 52% lower, Eldoret 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 KES 256

$1.59 KES 205

23.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.71 KES 6,435

$34.83 KES 4,509

42.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.35 KES 304

$6.24 KES 807

-62.34%

Cappuccino

$1.87 KES 243

$2.81 KES 363

-33.45%

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

$0.78 KES 101

$0.30 KES 38.27

160.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 96.2

$0.38 KES 49.06

94.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 KES 197

$2.29 KES 296

-33.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.67 KES 87.3

55.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 KES 115

$0.46 KES 60.0

91.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 KES 258

$1.53 KES 199

30.07%

Eggs

$1.92 KES 248

$1.57 KES 204

22.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 KES 512

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 KES 541

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 KES 974

$4.28 KES 554

75.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 KES 294

$2.35 KES 304

-3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 KES 92.0

$1.04 KES 134

-31.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$0.66 KES 85.9

171.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 KES 56.7

$0.88 KES 113

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.9

$0.56 KES 73.0

35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.45 KES 58.2

77.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.12

$0.61 KES 78.8

-60.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 KES 456

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 KES 1,636

$5.95 KES 770

112.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 KES 221

$2.02 KES 262

-15.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 KES 202

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$1.43 KES 185

-46.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.90 KES 3,482

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 178

$1.47 KES 190

-6.80%

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

$21.8K KES 2.8M

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

$20.6K KES 2.7M

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

$15.32 KES 1,984

$39.60 KES 5,126

-61.31%

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

$10.48 KES 1,357

$15.71 KES 2,034

-33.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 KES 3,249

$35.72 KES 4,624

-29.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.20 KES 3,651

$38.22 KES 4,948

-26.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 KES 1,022

$4.94 KES 640

59.72%

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

$159 KES 20.6K

$65.6 KES 8,489

142.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,045 KES 653.0K

$11.5K KES 1.5M

-56.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.83 KES 1,272

$11.68 KES 1,512

-15.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.82 KES 1,141

$27.55 KES 3,566

-67.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.72 KES 2,035

$19.63 KES 2,541

-19.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.19 KES 2,225

$35.18 KES 4,554

-51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$332 KES 43.0K

$94.2 KES 12.2K

252.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 KES 40.5K

$88.2 KES 11.4K

254.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$558 KES 72.3K

$274 KES 35.5K

103.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$625 KES 81.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 KES 30.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

-45.62%

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

Last update for Kilifi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Eldoret: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $332 in Kilifi and $94.2 in Eldoret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Kilifi vs $35.00 in Eldoret. Groceries flip the comparison at $123 vs $132, 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

Kilifi vs Eldoret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eldoret wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Kilifi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eldoret the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $975 in Kilifi and $750 in Eldoret to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $332 in Kilifi versus $94.2 in Eldoret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kilifi pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $650 per month in Kilifi versus $500 in Eldoret – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Eldoret 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 Eldoret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.