Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Nairobi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kilifi: $634 a month against $858 in Nairobi, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. The total is higher in Nairobi despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Nairobi
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Nairobi Living Index

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Kilifi

🇰🇪 Kenya

$634

/mo nomad

Nairobi

🇰🇪 Kenya

$858

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kilifi and in Nairobi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kilifi and in Nairobi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $634 per month in Kilifi vs $858 in Nairobi, rent included.

Kilifi $634
Nairobi $858

A couple spends around $1,049 per month in Kilifi vs $1,405 in Nairobi, rent included.

Kilifi $1,049
Nairobi $1,405

A family of three spends $1,465 per month in Kilifi vs $1,952 in Nairobi, rent included.

Kilifi $1,465
Nairobi $1,952

Kilifi is about 26% cheaper than Nairobi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kilifi and Nairobi are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 53% lower, Nairobi 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.90 KES 246

$6.34 KES 822

-70.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.32 KES 6,394

$34.07 KES 4,417

44.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.29 KES 297

$6.41 KES 831

-64.27%

Cappuccino

$1.99 KES 257

$2.65 KES 344

-24.91%

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

$0.81 KES 105

$0.63 KES 81.3

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 96.2

$0.60 KES 78.3

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 KES 196

$2.27 KES 295

-33.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 361

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.89 KES 116

19.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.56 KES 73.0

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 KES 260

$1.90 KES 247

5.79%

Eggs

$1.94 KES 251

$1.72 KES 223

12.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.83 KES 1,404

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 KES 846

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 KES 1,023

$6.38 KES 827

23.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 KES 296

$3.32 KES 431

-31.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.9

$1.10 KES 143

-36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$2.04 KES 265

-12.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 KES 57.7

$1.10 KES 142

-59.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 103

$1.06 KES 137

-25.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 KES 103

$1.05 KES 136

-24.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 KES 95.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.39

$0.79 KES 102

-72.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 KES 451

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 KES 1,643

$11.64 KES 1,510

8.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 222

$2.21 KES 286

-22.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 368

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 95.7

$0.77 KES 100

-3.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.67 KES 3,457

$46.01 KES 5,965

-42.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 202

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 198

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 383

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 KES 171

$1.55 KES 201

-14.84%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

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)

$15.65 KES 2,029

$55.1 KES 7,145

-71.60%

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

$10.43 KES 1,353

$15.13 KES 1,962

-31.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.11 KES 3,255

$34.54 KES 4,478

-27.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.40 KES 3,552

$50.1 KES 6,500

-45.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 KES 2,010

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 KES 974

$7.57 KES 982

-0.66%

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

$160 KES 20.8K

$251 KES 32.5K

-36.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,984 KES 646.1K

$12.4K KES 1.6M

-59.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.82 KES 1,273

$27.61 KES 3,580

-64.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.90 KES 1,154

$29.05 KES 3,766

-69.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.50 KES 2,009

$71.0 KES 9,205

-78.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.60 KES 2,282

$59.2 KES 7,679

-70.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 KES 42.7K

$440 KES 57.0K

-25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 KES 39.3K

$214 KES 27.8K

41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 KES 35.4K

$1,111 KES 144.1K

-75.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 KES 73.9K

$499 KES 64.7K

14.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,324 KES 171.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$912 KES 118.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$227 KES 29.4K

$480 KES 62.2K

-52.74%

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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$214 25%

Groceries & Markets

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$208 24.2%

Eating Out

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$124 14.4%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$105 12.2%

Clothing & Footwear

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$84 9.8%

Sport & Entertainment

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$65 7.6%

Getting Around

Kilifi

–

Nairobi

$58 6.8%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Kilifi versus $440 in Nairobi. 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 112% higher in Nairobi, 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 $34.00 in Nairobi. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Kilifi vs $208 in Nairobi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇰🇪 Kilifi

🇰🇪 Nairobi

🕒 Local time

21:28 9:28 PM

Same time as Kilifi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

122,899

3,138,295 Capital

💱 Currency

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $634 in Kilifi, $858 in Nairobi – roughly 35% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $951 per month in Kilifi and $1,287 in Nairobi. 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 $160 per month in Kilifi and $251 in Nairobi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Nairobi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Nairobi at $858. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nairobi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nairobi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $634 in Kilifi to $858 in Nairobi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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