Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Nairobi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $630 per month in Kilifi vs $844 in Nairobi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,038 per month in Kilifi vs $1,376 in Nairobi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,446 per month in Kilifi vs $1,908 in Nairobi, rent included.

Kilifi is about 25% cheaper than Nairobi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kilifi and Nairobi are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 54% lower, Nairobi 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 KES 254

$3.75 KES 485

-47.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 KES 6,402

$35.04 KES 4,533

41.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

$6.31 KES 816

-62.44%

Cappuccino

$1.96 KES 254

$2.70 KES 350

-27.41%

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

$0.81 KES 104

$0.60 KES 77.5

35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.52 KES 67.2

44.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 KES 202

$2.34 KES 302

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 KES 141

$0.89 KES 116

22.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KES 108

$0.57 KES 73.3

45.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KES 267

$1.85 KES 240

11.35%

Eggs

$1.93 KES 250

$1.70 KES 220

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 KES 1,365

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 815

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 KES 1,028

$6.09 KES 788

30.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KES 303

$3.38 KES 438

-30.77%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 KES 93.2

$1.00 KES 130

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 KES 223

$1.95 KES 253

-11.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 KES 61.7

$1.06 KES 138

-54.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 KES 104

$1.06 KES 137

-24.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.04 KES 135

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.05

$0.73 KES 94.3

-67.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 KES 439

Wine (Bottle)

$12.50 KES 1,617

$11.53 KES 1,492

8.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 KES 223

$2.22 KES 287

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 KES 352

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

$0.74 KES 96.2

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.93 KES 3,485

$46.72 KES 6,045

-42.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 KES 194

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 381

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 KES 178

$1.52 KES 196

-9.21%

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)

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$15.34 KES 1,985

$62.0 KES 8,021

-75.25%

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

$10.23 KES 1,323

$15.43 KES 1,996

-33.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 KES 3,246

$34.66 KES 4,484

-27.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.14 KES 3,641

$51.0 KES 6,593

-44.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.56 KES 1,884

Cinema Ticket

$7.51 KES 971

$7.92 KES 1,025

-5.18%

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

$161 KES 20.8K

$234 KES 30.3K

-31.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,960 KES 641.7K

$11.5K KES 1.5M

-57.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.61 KES 1,243

$26.93 KES 3,485

-64.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,172

$25.62 KES 3,315

-64.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 KES 1,983

$64.2 KES 8,306

-76.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.41 KES 2,252

$59.8 KES 7,731

-70.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 KES 42.5K

$458 KES 59.3K

-28.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.8K

$210 KES 27.2K

46.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 KES 35.4K

$1,152 KES 149.0K

-76.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 KES 72.9K

$505 KES 65.4K

11.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,344 KES 173.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$912 KES 118.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.4K

$473 KES 61.2K

-51.89%

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 Nairobi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $328 in Kilifi versus $458 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 108% 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 $35.00 in Nairobi. Groceries tell a different story – $125 in Kilifi vs $203 in Nairobi – 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 Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $630 in Kilifi, $844 in Nairobi – roughly 34% apart. Nairobi 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 $1,266 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 $161 per month in Kilifi and $234 in Nairobi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% 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 $630, than in Nairobi at $844. 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 $630 in Kilifi to $844 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.