Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Kisumu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Kisumu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $630 per month in Kilifi vs $647 in Kisumu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Kilifi vs $976 in Kisumu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,446 per month in Kilifi vs $1,306 in Kisumu, rent included.

Kilifi is about 3% cheaper than Kisumu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kilifi and Kisumu are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 54% lower, Kisumu 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 KES 253

$3.79 KES 490

-48.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 KES 6,400

$25.57 KES 3,308

93.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

$6.07 KES 785

-60.96%

Cappuccino

$1.96 KES 254

$2.62 KES 339

-25.19%

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

$0.81 KES 104

$0.56 KES 72.2

44.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.52 KES 67.0

44.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.96 KES 253

-20.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.53 KES 67.9

105.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KES 108

$0.56 KES 71.9

48.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KES 267

$1.87 KES 242

10.16%

Eggs

$1.93 KES 250

$1.64 KES 212

17.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 KES 1,351

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 KES 806

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 KES 1,028

$4.90 KES 633

62.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KES 303

$3.36 KES 434

-30.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.1

$0.94 KES 122

-23.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 KES 223

$2.06 KES 266

-16.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$1.11 KES 144

-56.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$1.06 KES 137

-24.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.89 KES 115

-12.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 87.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.05

$0.76 KES 98.5

-68.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$12.50 KES 1,617

$7.49 KES 969

66.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 223

$2.20 KES 284

-21.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 303

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.80 KES 103

-2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 KES 3,484

$22.92 KES 2,964

17.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 194

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 178

$1.58 KES 205

-12.66%

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)

$19.9K KES 2.6M

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

$15.34 KES 1,985

$59.9 KES 7,741

-74.37%

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

$10.23 KES 1,323

$15.04 KES 1,945

-31.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 KES 3,245

$35.28 KES 4,563

-28.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.14 KES 3,640

$23.27 KES 3,010

20.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 KES 971

$7.81 KES 1,010

-3.84%

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

$161 KES 20.8K

$116 KES 15.0K

38.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,960 KES 641.6K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

-56.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.61 KES 1,243

$11.43 KES 1,478

-15.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,172

$19.11 KES 2,472

-52.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 KES 1,983

$15.76 KES 2,038

-2.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.41 KES 2,251

$15.30 KES 1,979

13.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 KES 42.4K

$157 KES 20.3K

109.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.8K

$141 KES 18.2K

117.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 KES 35.4K

$568 KES 73.5K

-51.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 KES 72.9K

$217 KES 28.0K

160.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$787 KES 101.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.4K

$780 KES 100.9K

-70.84%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $328 in Kilifi versus $157 in Kisumu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 243% higher in Kisumu, 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 $26.00 in Kisumu. Groceries tell a different story – $125 in Kilifi vs $186 in Kisumu – 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 Kisumu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $630 in Kilifi, $647 in Kisumu – roughly 3% apart. Kisumu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $944 per month in Kilifi and $971 in Kisumu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Kilifi and $116 in Kisumu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Kisumu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $630 in Kilifi and $647 in Kisumu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Kisumu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $630 in Kilifi to $647 in Kisumu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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