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: $436 in Kilifi versus $489 in Kiambu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Kilifi versus $759 in Kiambu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,128 in Kilifi versus $1,030 in Kiambu.

Living in Kilifi costs roughly 11% less than in Kiambu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kilifi 67% lower, Kiambu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 KES 291

$3.12 KES 403

-27.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,574

$19.07 KES 2,464

166.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.30 KES 297

$4.74 KES 613

-51.48%

Cappuccino

$1.90 KES 246

$1.91 KES 246

-0.52%

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

$0.74 KES 95.9

$0.50 KES 64.3

48.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.36 KES 47.14

116.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 KES 256

$1.73 KES 224

14.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 302

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.64 KES 82.5

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.54 KES 69.2

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KES 246

$1.66 KES 214

14.46%

Eggs

$1.80 KES 233

$1.29 KES 167

39.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.83 KES 1,529

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 KES 874

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.17 KES 539

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 KES 298

$3.06 KES 395

-24.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 KES 109

$1.07 KES 139

-20.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 KES 236

$0.81 KES 104

125.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 KES 84.7

$0.59 KES 76.8

11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 83.0

$0.59 KES 75.7

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.4

$0.76 KES 98.1

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.32 KES 41.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.15

$0.37 KES 48.13

-35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 390

Wine (Bottle)

$12.82 KES 1,656

$11.50 KES 1,486

11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 KES 253

$2.30 KES 298

-15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.56 KES 72.1

39.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 KES 3,559

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 197

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 103

$0.41 KES 52.6

95.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 KES 367

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.52 KES 196

-9.87%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$19.9K KES 2.6M

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

$15.61 KES 2,018

$28.46 KES 3,678

-45.15%

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

$10.28 KES 1,329

$7.90 KES 1,021

30.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.26 KES 3,264

$28.86 KES 3,730

-12.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.03 KES 3,622

$11.68 KES 1,509

139.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 KES 985

$5.93 KES 767

28.50%

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

$162 KES 20.9K

$201 KES 26.0K

-19.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,072 KES 655.4K

$7,976 KES 1.0M

-36.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.52 KES 1,230

$6.26 KES 809

52.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.67 KES 1,121

$23.57 KES 3,045

-63.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.59 KES 2,014

$26.87 KES 3,473

-41.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.13 KES 2,214

$30.47 KES 3,937

-43.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

$117 KES 15.1K

51.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 KES 14.6K

$92.6 KES 12.0K

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.5K

$191 KES 24.7K

43.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

$149 KES 19.3K

78.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,159 KES 149.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 KES 30.4K

$123 KES 15.9K

90.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-27.27%

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

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kiambu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Kilifi and $117 in Kiambu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilifi pays 91% 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 $19.00 in Kiambu. Groceries flip the comparison at $100 vs $183, 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

Kilifi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 91% 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: $177 in Kilifi versus $117 in Kiambu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $162 in Kilifi versus $201 in Kiambu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kilifi – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $19.00 in Kiambu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 12% less than in Kiambu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.