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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $430 per month in Kilifi vs $782 in Nairobi, rent included.

A couple spends around $770 per month in Kilifi vs $1,305 in Nairobi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,110 per month in Kilifi vs $1,828 in Nairobi, rent included.

Kilifi is about 45% cheaper than Nairobi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kilifi and Nairobi are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 68% lower, Nairobi 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$5.35 KES 693

-57.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,593

$38.02 KES 4,926

33.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

$6.91 KES 895

-65.70%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 248

$2.39 KES 309

-20.08%

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

$0.80 KES 103

$0.71 KES 91.9

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$0.51 KES 65.6

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 KES 245

$2.31 KES 299

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 385

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.94 KES 122

-6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 KES 97.2

$0.53 KES 68.3

41.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 KES 254

$1.64 KES 212

19.51%

Eggs

$1.88 KES 243

$1.69 KES 218

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 KES 886

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 KES 705

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 KES 295

$3.03 KES 392

-24.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 KES 117

$1.08 KES 140

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$2.08 KES 269

-13.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.2

$1.04 KES 135

-32.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.5

$1.06 KES 138

-39.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.6

$1.15 KES 150

-47.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.25

$0.79 KES 102

-69.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 394

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 KES 1,628

$11.67 KES 1,511

7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 KES 255

$2.22 KES 288

-11.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.6

$0.75 KES 96.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,464

$30.59 KES 3,963

-12.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$1.50 KES 195

-49.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 KES 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 KES 170

$1.56 KES 202

-16.03%

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

$22.0K KES 2.9M

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

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

$15.25 KES 1,976

$34.70 KES 4,495

-56.05%

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

$10.26 KES 1,329

$16.60 KES 2,151

-38.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.87 KES 3,222

$39.54 KES 5,122

-37.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.59 KES 3,574

$43.29 KES 5,608

-36.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,672

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 KES 981

$6.07 KES 787

24.71%

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

$163 KES 21.1K

$202 KES 26.1K

-19.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,961 KES 642.6K

$8,140 KES 1.1M

-39.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.76 KES 1,265

$18.28 KES 2,368

-46.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,174

$23.56 KES 3,053

-61.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.31 KES 1,984

$66.4 KES 8,605

-76.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.27 KES 2,238

$56.7 KES 7,339

-69.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

$450 KES 58.3K

-60.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

$185 KES 23.9K

-38.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

$1,134 KES 146.9K

-76.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 KES 34.8K

$417 KES 54.1K

-35.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,558 KES 201.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 KES 114.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.5K

$416 KES 53.9K

-45.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

-46.09%

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

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Kilifi versus $450 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 83% 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 $51.0 in Kilifi versus $38.00 in Nairobi. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Kilifi vs $207 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: $430 in Kilifi, $782 in Nairobi – roughly 82% apart. Nairobi 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 $1,174 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 $163 per month in Kilifi and $202 in Nairobi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 107% more in Nairobi, 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 $782 in Nairobi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Nairobi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $430 in Kilifi to $782 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.