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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $430 per month in Kilifi vs $593 in Kisumu, rent included.

A couple spends around $770 per month in Kilifi vs $945 in Kisumu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,110 per month in Kilifi vs $1,298 in Kisumu, rent included.

Kilifi is about 28% cheaper than Kisumu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kilifi and Kisumu are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 68% lower, Kisumu 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$4.58 KES 593

-50.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,588

$23.50 KES 3,042

116.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

$6.78 KES 877

-65.04%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 247

$2.26 KES 292

-15.49%

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

$0.80 KES 103

$0.60 KES 77.6

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$0.51 KES 65.6

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 KES 245

$1.95 KES 252

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 KES 369

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.53 KES 68.2

66.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 KES 97.1

$0.56 KES 72.4

33.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 KES 254

$1.67 KES 216

17.37%

Eggs

$1.88 KES 243

$1.62 KES 209

16.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 KES 1,529

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KES 852

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.14 KES 665

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 KES 295

$3.04 KES 394

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 KES 117

$1.03 KES 134

-12.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$2.17 KES 280

-17.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.1

$1.00 KES 129

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.5

$1.07 KES 139

-40.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.5

$0.95 KES 123

-36.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.23

$0.76 KES 98.2

-68.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 KES 408

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 KES 1,627

$7.93 KES 1,026

58.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 KES 255

$2.29 KES 296

-13.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 302

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.5

$0.79 KES 102

-5.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,461

$23.22 KES 3,006

15.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 KES 98.0

$1.51 KES 196

-49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 KES 170

$1.53 KES 198

-14.38%

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

$21.5K KES 2.8M

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

$20.0K KES 2.6M

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

$15.25 KES 1,974

$34.39 KES 4,452

-55.66%

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

$10.26 KES 1,328

$16.65 KES 2,155

-38.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.87 KES 3,220

$39.66 KES 5,134

-37.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.59 KES 3,572

$22.91 KES 2,966

20.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 KES 980

$6.03 KES 780

25.54%

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

$163 KES 21.1K

$115 KES 14.9K

41.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,961 KES 642.1K

$8,201 KES 1.1M

-39.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.76 KES 1,264

$11.50 KES 1,488

-15.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,173

$19.49 KES 2,523

-53.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.31 KES 1,982

$15.54 KES 2,012

-1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.27 KES 2,236

$15.66 KES 2,027

10.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

$138 KES 17.9K

28.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

$107 KES 13.8K

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

$351 KES 45.5K

-24.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 KES 34.8K

$218 KES 28.2K

23.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$772 KES 99.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.5K

$768 KES 99.5K

-70.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-33.33%

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

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Kilifi versus $138 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 237% 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 $51.0 in Kilifi versus $24.00 in Kisumu. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Kilifi vs $192 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: $430 in Kilifi, $593 in Kisumu – roughly 38% apart. Kisumu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $645 per month in Kilifi and $890 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 $163 per month in Kilifi and $115 in Kisumu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% 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 $430 in Kilifi and $593 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 $430 in Kilifi to $593 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.