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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Kilifi vs $604 in Kisumu, rent included.

A couple spends around $782 per month in Kilifi vs $955 in Kisumu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,128 per month in Kilifi vs $1,305 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 67% lower, Kisumu 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 KES 291

$4.76 KES 615

-52.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,574

$23.41 KES 3,025

117.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.30 KES 297

$6.42 KES 829

-64.17%

Cappuccino

$1.90 KES 246

$2.26 KES 292

-15.93%

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

$0.74 KES 95.9

$0.56 KES 71.9

32.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.54 KES 70.1

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 KES 256

$1.89 KES 244

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 371

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.51 KES 66.5

72.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.53 KES 68.0

52.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KES 246

$1.66 KES 215

14.46%

Eggs

$1.80 KES 233

$1.70 KES 219

5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.51 KES 1,487

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 KES 897

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.14 KES 665

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 KES 298

$3.15 KES 406

-26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 KES 109

$1.04 KES 135

-18.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 KES 236

$2.07 KES 267

-11.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 KES 84.7

$1.02 KES 131

-35.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 83.0

$1.08 KES 140

-40.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.4

$0.88 KES 114

-27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 84.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.15

$0.75 KES 96.6

-68.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 KES 404

Wine (Bottle)

$12.82 KES 1,656

$7.72 KES 998

66.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 KES 253

$2.29 KES 296

-14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 KES 297

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.75 KES 96.6

4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 KES 3,559

$22.84 KES 2,952

20.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 KES 103

$1.57 KES 203

-49.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 KES 364

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$1.52 KES 196

-9.87%

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$20.3K KES 2.6M

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

$15.61 KES 2,018

$34.40 KES 4,446

-54.62%

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

$10.28 KES 1,329

$16.99 KES 2,195

-39.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.26 KES 3,264

$39.89 KES 5,155

-36.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.03 KES 3,622

$23.55 KES 3,043

19.02%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 KES 985

$6.09 KES 787

25.12%

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

$162 KES 20.9K

$115 KES 14.9K

40.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,072 KES 655.4K

$8,154 KES 1.1M

-37.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.52 KES 1,230

$11.50 KES 1,486

-17.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.67 KES 1,121

$19.04 KES 2,461

-54.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.59 KES 2,014

$15.22 KES 1,967

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.13 KES 2,214

$15.75 KES 2,035

8.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

$138 KES 17.8K

28.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 KES 14.6K

$109 KES 14.0K

4.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 KES 35.5K

$353 KES 45.7K

-22.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.4K

$213 KES 27.5K

24.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$772 KES 99.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 KES 30.4K

$781 KES 100.9K

-69.91%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: July 14, 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 232% 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 $23.00 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: $436 in Kilifi, $604 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 $655 per month in Kilifi and $906 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 $162 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 $436 in Kilifi and $604 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 $436 in Kilifi to $604 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.