Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Isiolo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Isiolo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Kilifi versus $539 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Kilifi versus $876 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,442 in Kilifi versus $1,214 in Isiolo.

Living in Kilifi is roughly 20% more expensive than in Isiolo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 52% lower, Isiolo 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 KES 244

$4.73 KES 613

-60.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,605

$34.12 KES 4,424

49.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.30 KES 298

$6.07 KES 787

-62.11%

Cappuccino

$1.95 KES 253

$2.72 KES 352

-28.31%

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

$0.75 KES 96.9

$0.59 KES 76.5

27.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.63 KES 81.8

23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 KES 195

$2.35 KES 305

-36.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 KES 340

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.86 KES 112

25.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 KES 109

$0.57 KES 74.2

47.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 KES 259

$1.93 KES 250

3.63%

Eggs

$2.01 KES 261

$1.67 KES 216

20.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 KES 1,396

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 KES 839

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.85 KES 1,018

$6.40 KES 829

22.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KES 301

$3.18 KES 412

-27.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 KES 91.1

$1.03 KES 134

-32.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 KES 231

$1.97 KES 256

-9.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.44 KES 57.4

$1.13 KES 147

-61.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 95.0

$1.10 KES 143

-33.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 102

$1.03 KES 133

-24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 87.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.33

$0.74 KES 95.4

-70.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 KES 457

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 KES 1,620

$11.42 KES 1,480

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 KES 231

$2.29 KES 297

-22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 KES 363

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 95.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.19 KES 3,526

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 198

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 381

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 177

$1.43 KES 185

-4.90%

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

$21.4K KES 2.8M

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

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

$15.39 KES 1,995

$61.9 KES 8,020

-75.12%

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

$10.43 KES 1,352

$15.49 KES 2,008

-32.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.75 KES 3,209

$35.16 KES 4,559

-29.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.04 KES 3,635

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 KES 985

$7.93 KES 1,028

-4.16%

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

$161 KES 20.8K

$252 KES 32.6K

-36.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,979 KES 645.6K

$11.8K KES 1.5M

-57.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.82 KES 1,273

$28.60 KES 3,708

-65.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.80 KES 1,141

$28.49 KES 3,695

-69.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.56 KES 2,018

$68.9 KES 8,926

-77.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.08 KES 2,214

$59.3 KES 7,689

-71.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 KES 42.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 KES 40.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 KES 72.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$233 KES 30.2K

$761 KES 98.6K

-69.37%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 226% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51.0 in Kilifi vs $34.00 in Isiolo. Groceries flip the comparison at $124 vs $205, 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 Isiolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Kilifi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 226% lower in Isiolo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Kilifi pay roughly 65% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Kilifi versus $539 in Isiolo – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Isiolo 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 Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.