Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Nakuru Cost of Living Comparison Between Kilifi and Nakuru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Kilifi vs $606 in Nakuru, rent included.

A couple spends around $782 per month in Kilifi vs $996 in Nakuru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,128 per month in Kilifi vs $1,386 in Nakuru, rent included.

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

Both Kilifi and Nakuru are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 67% lower, Nakuru 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25 KES 291
$3.51 KES 454
-35.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 KES 6,574
$38.94 KES 5,032
30.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.30 KES 297
$6.90 KES 891
-66.67%
Cappuccino
$1.90 KES 246
$1.72 KES 223
10.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 95.9
$0.37 KES 48.23
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 KES 101
$0.32 KES 41.63
143.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 KES 256
$1.42 KES 184
39.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51 KES 196
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 KES 114
$0.51 KES 66.0
72.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 KES 104
$0.51 KES 65.7
58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 KES 246
$1.15 KES 148
65.22%
Eggs
$1.80 KES 233
$1.36 KES 176
32.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.62 KES 985
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$6.40 KES 827
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$4.30 KES 556
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 KES 298
$1.70 KES 220
35.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 KES 109
$0.45 KES 57.7
88.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 KES 236
$1.71 KES 221
7.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 KES 84.7
$0.60 KES 77.8
10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 KES 83.0
$0.40 KES 51.9
60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 KES 82.4
$0.56 KES 72.4
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.65 KES 83.9
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 KES 31.15
$0.60 KES 78.1
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.04 KES 264
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.82 KES 1,656
$11.75 KES 1,518
9.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 KES 253
$1.61 KES 208
21.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 KES 233
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 KES 101
$0.76 KES 97.7
2.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.55 KES 3,559
$26.48 KES 3,422
4.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.58 KES 204
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 KES 103
$0.74 KES 95.4
8.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.95 KES 381
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 KES 177
$1.27 KES 164
7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$12.5K KES 1.6M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$14.7K KES 1.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.61 KES 2,018
$30.33 KES 3,920
-48.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.28 KES 1,329
$17.05 KES 2,204
-39.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.26 KES 3,264
$39.44 KES 5,096
-35.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.03 KES 3,622
$47.30 KES 6,112
-40.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62 KES 985
$5.44 KES 703
40.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 KES 20.9K
$204 KES 26.4K
-20.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,072 KES 655.4K
$3,922 KES 506.9K
29.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.52 KES 1,230
$18.52 KES 2,394
-48.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.67 KES 1,121
$24.31 KES 3,141
-64.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.59 KES 2,014
$37.95 KES 4,904
-58.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$17.13 KES 2,214
$54.9 KES 7,099
-68.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$177 KES 22.9K
$229 KES 29.6K
-22.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 KES 14.6K
$115 KES 14.9K
-2.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 KES 35.5K
$393 KES 50.8K
-30.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 KES 34.4K
$271 KES 35.0K
-1.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kilifi
Nakuru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$235 KES 30.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
12.5
-36.00%

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

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nakuru: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Kilifi versus $229 in Nakuru. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Kilifi versus $39.00 in Nakuru. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Kilifi vs $156 in Nakuru – 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 Nakuru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kilifi and in Nakuru compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $436 in Kilifi, $606 in Nakuru – roughly 39% apart. Nakuru costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kilifi compared to Nakuru?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $655 per month in Kilifi and $908 in Nakuru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kilifi and Nakuru?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kilifi and Nakuru?
Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Kilifi and $204 in Nakuru. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Nakuru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Kilifi compared to Nakuru?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $436 in Kilifi and $606 in Nakuru, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kilifi or Nakuru?
Families tend to lean toward Kilifi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Kilifi and Nakuru?
If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nakuru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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