Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Kiambu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Kiambu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Kilifi versus $474 in Kiambu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Kilifi versus $774 in Kiambu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,453 in Kilifi versus $1,075 in Kiambu.

Living in Kilifi is roughly 33% more expensive than in Kiambu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 54% lower, Kiambu 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 KES 251

$3.97 KES 513

-51.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 KES 6,612

$34.24 KES 4,427

49.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.36 KES 305

$6.01 KES 777

-60.73%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 247

$2.71 KES 350

-29.52%

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

$0.75 KES 97.3

$0.55 KES 71.3

36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.52 KES 67.7

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 KES 203

$2.29 KES 296

-31.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 KES 344

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.54 KES 69.6

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KES 108

$0.50 KES 65.3

66.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KES 266

$1.89 KES 244

8.99%

Eggs

$2.01 KES 259

$1.42 KES 184

41.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 KES 1,363

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 814

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 KES 983

$4.07 KES 526

86.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KES 302

$3.25 KES 420

-28.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.01 KES 130

-28.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 KES 224

$0.76 KES 97.8

128.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$0.60 KES 77.0

-20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.7

$0.68 KES 88.4

7.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.9

$0.73 KES 93.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 KES 38.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.20

$0.40 KES 52.0

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 KES 447

Wine (Bottle)

$12.83 KES 1,659

$11.74 KES 1,518

9.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 KES 230

$2.29 KES 296

-22.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.68 KES 87.6

10.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.68 KES 3,450

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 KES 48.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 KES 176

$1.57 KES 204

-13.38%

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$15.56 KES 2,012

$60.0 KES 7,754

-74.05%

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

$10.48 KES 1,355

$7.74 KES 1,001

35.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 KES 3,233

$35.57 KES 4,599

-29.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.21 KES 3,648

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 KES 983

$5.87 KES 759

29.47%

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

$161 KES 20.8K

$243 KES 31.4K

-33.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,048 KES 652.7K

$11.5K KES 1.5M

-55.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.46 KES 1,224

$26.69 KES 3,451

-64.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.01 KES 1,164

$25.86 KES 3,343

-65.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.20 KES 1,966

$64.0 KES 8,269

-76.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.51 KES 2,264

$61.0 KES 7,882

-71.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 KES 43.0K

$117 KES 15.1K

184.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 KES 40.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 KES 35.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 KES 72.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 KES 148.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$231 KES 29.8K

$122 KES 15.8K

88.78%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Kiambu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Kilifi and $117 in Kiambu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilifi pays 89% 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: $51.0 in Kilifi vs $34.00 in Kiambu. Groceries flip the comparison at $125 vs $177, 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 Kiambu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kiambu is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 89% higher in Kilifi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $333 in Kilifi versus $117 in Kiambu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $161 in Kilifi versus $243 in Kiambu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kiambu – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $51.0 in Kilifi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kiambu 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 Kiambu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Kilifi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.