Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Garissa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Garissa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $630 per month in Kilifi vs $376 in Garissa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Kilifi vs $657 in Garissa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,446 per month in Kilifi vs $938 in Garissa, rent included.

Kilifi costs about 67% more than Garissa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kilifi and Garissa are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 54% lower, Garissa 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 KES 254

$11.69 KES 1,512

-83.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 KES 6,402

$23.22 KES 3,005

113.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

Cappuccino

$1.96 KES 254

$7.79 KES 1,008

-74.84%

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

$0.81 KES 104

$1.97 KES 255

-58.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$1.14 KES 148

-34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 KES 202

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.52 KES 67.0

109.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KES 108

$0.59 KES 76.7

40.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KES 267

$1.44 KES 186

43.06%

Eggs

$1.93 KES 250

$1.92 KES 248

0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KES 822

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 KES 1,028

$5.36 KES 694

48.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KES 303

$3.95 KES 511

-40.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$3.05 KES 395

-76.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 KES 223

$4.52 KES 584

-61.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.74 KES 95.9

-35.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$1.25 KES 162

-36.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.56 KES 201

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 KES 298

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.05

$0.51 KES 66.5

-52.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.50 KES 1,617

$5.89 KES 762

112.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 223

$1.68 KES 217

2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 KES 490

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 KES 3,485

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 178

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

$15.34 KES 1,985

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

$10.23 KES 1,323

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 KES 3,246

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.14 KES 3,641

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 KES 971

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

$161 KES 20.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,960 KES 641.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.61 KES 1,243

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,172

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 KES 1,983

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.41 KES 2,252

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 KES 42.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 KES 35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 KES 72.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.4K

$132 KES 17.1K

72.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Kilifi: August 29, 2026

Last update for Garissa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 72% higher in Kilifi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Kilifi versus $23.00 in Garissa. Groceries tell a different story – $125 in Kilifi vs $182 in Garissa – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Garissa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $630 in Kilifi, $376 in Garissa – roughly 67% apart. Kilifi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $944 per month in Kilifi and $564 in Garissa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Kilifi and $23.00 in Garissa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $630 in Kilifi and $376 in Garissa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $630 in Kilifi and $376 in Garissa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Garissa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Garissa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kilifi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.