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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A family of three spends $1,305 per month in Kisumu vs $1,128 in Kilifi, rent included.

Kisumu costs about 38% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.76 KES 615

$2.25 KES 291

111.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.41 KES 3,025

$50.9 KES 6,574

-53.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 KES 829

$2.30 KES 297

179.13%

Cappuccino

$2.26 KES 292

$1.90 KES 246

18.95%

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

$0.56 KES 71.9

$0.74 KES 95.9

-24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 70.1

$0.78 KES 101

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 KES 244

$1.98 KES 256

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 371

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 KES 66.5

$0.88 KES 114

-42.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.0

$0.81 KES 104

-34.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KES 215

$1.90 KES 246

-12.63%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 219

$1.80 KES 233

-5.56%

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)

$3.15 KES 406

$2.31 KES 298

36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.85 KES 109

22.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 KES 267

$1.83 KES 236

13.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 131

$0.66 KES 84.7

54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.64 KES 83.0

68.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 KES 114

$0.64 KES 82.4

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 84.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.24 KES 31.15

212.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 KES 404

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 KES 998

$12.82 KES 1,656

-39.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.95 KES 253

17.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 KES 297

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.78 KES 101

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.84 KES 2,952

$27.55 KES 3,559

-17.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$0.80 KES 103

96.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 KES 364

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 196

$1.37 KES 177

10.95%

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)

$34.40 KES 4,446

$15.61 KES 2,018

120.37%

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

$16.99 KES 2,195

$10.28 KES 1,329

65.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.89 KES 5,155

$25.26 KES 3,264

57.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.55 KES 3,043

$28.03 KES 3,622

-15.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 KES 787

$7.62 KES 985

-20.08%

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

$115 KES 14.9K

$162 KES 20.9K

-28.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,154 KES 1.1M

$5,072 KES 655.4K

60.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.50 KES 1,486

$9.52 KES 1,230

20.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.04 KES 2,461

$8.67 KES 1,121

119.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.22 KES 1,967

$15.59 KES 2,014

-2.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.75 KES 2,035

$17.13 KES 2,214

-8.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 KES 17.8K

$177 KES 22.9K

-22.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 KES 14.0K

$113 KES 14.6K

-3.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 KES 45.7K

$275 KES 35.5K

28.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 KES 27.5K

$266 KES 34.4K

-19.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$772 KES 99.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 KES 100.9K

$235 KES 30.4K

232.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

50.00%

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

Last update for Kisumu: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Kisumu versus $177 in Kilifi. 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 $23.00 in Kisumu versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Kisumu vs $100 in Kilifi – 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

Kisumu vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $604 in Kisumu, $436 in Kilifi – roughly 38% apart. Kisumu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $906 per month in Kisumu and $655 in Kilifi. 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 $115 per month in Kisumu and $162 in Kilifi. 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 $604 in Kisumu and $436 in Kilifi, 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.