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: $429 in Kilifi versus $488 in Isiolo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $777 in Kilifi versus $809 in Isiolo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,125 in Kilifi versus $1,130 in Isiolo.

Living in Kilifi costs roughly 12% less than in Isiolo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 68% lower, Isiolo 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 KES 298

$5.30 KES 687

-56.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 KES 6,518

$30.45 KES 3,945

65.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.35 KES 304

$3.89 KES 505

-39.59%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 247

$2.48 KES 322

-22.98%

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

$0.80 KES 103

$0.28 KES 36.40

185.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 KES 103

$0.24 KES 31.20

233.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 KES 256

$2.28 KES 295

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 371

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.84 KES 109

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 KES 103

$0.41 KES 53.0

92.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 KES 257

$1.58 KES 205

25.32%

Eggs

$1.83 KES 238

$1.43 KES 185

27.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.66 KES 1,511

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 KES 860

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.70 KES 738

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 KES 297

$3.01 KES 390

-23.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 KES 116

$1.05 KES 136

-15.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 KES 236

$2.17 KES 281

-16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 KES 89.2

$1.02 KES 132

-32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 KES 83.6

$1.04 KES 134

-37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.8

$1.16 KES 150

-48.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.20

$0.75 KES 96.7

-68.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 KES 395

Wine (Bottle)

$12.72 KES 1,648

$11.81 KES 1,530

7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 KES 244

$2.23 KES 288

-15.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.43 KES 3,554

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 KES 195

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 KES 96.0

$1.56 KES 203

-52.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 KES 377

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$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)

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$15.24 KES 1,974

$33.75 KES 4,372

-54.84%

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

$10.30 KES 1,334

$16.75 KES 2,170

-38.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.25 KES 3,272

$39.04 KES 5,057

-35.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.19 KES 3,652

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 KES 1,021

$6.05 KES 783

30.25%

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

$161 KES 20.9K

$206 KES 26.7K

-21.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,094 KES 659.9K

$7,959 KES 1.0M

-36.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.79 KES 1,269

$18.31 KES 2,372

-46.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.63 KES 1,119

$24.43 KES 3,165

-64.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.71 KES 2,035

$66.5 KES 8,617

-76.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.48 KES 2,264

$55.4 KES 7,179

-68.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 KES 22.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 KES 14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 KES 33.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 KES 30.4K

$783 KES 101.5K

-70.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

-46.09%

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

Last update for Kilifi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 234% 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 $30.00 in Isiolo. Groceries flip the comparison at $100 vs $202, 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

Kilifi wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Isiolo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kilifi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 234% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 101% higher in Isiolo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $429 per month in Kilifi versus $488 in Isiolo – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 14% less than in Isiolo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.