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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $593 per month in Kisumu vs $430 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $945 per month in Kisumu vs $770 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,298 per month in Kisumu vs $1,110 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 56% lower, Kilifi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 KES 593

$2.27 KES 294

101.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.50 KES 3,044

$50.9 KES 6,593

-53.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 KES 878

$2.37 KES 307

186.08%

Cappuccino

$2.26 KES 293

$1.91 KES 248

18.32%

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

$0.60 KES 77.7

$0.80 KES 103

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.7

$0.76 KES 98.2

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 KES 253

$1.89 KES 245

3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 KES 370

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 KES 68.3

$0.88 KES 114

-39.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.4

$0.75 KES 97.2

-25.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 KES 216

$1.96 KES 254

-14.80%

Eggs

$1.62 KES 209

$1.88 KES 243

-13.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 KES 1,530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KES 853

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.14 KES 666

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 KES 394

$2.28 KES 295

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 KES 134

$0.90 KES 117

14.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$1.79 KES 232

21.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

$0.70 KES 90.2

42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.64 KES 82.5

67.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 KES 123

$0.60 KES 77.6

58.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.3

$0.24 KES 31.25

216.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 KES 408

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 KES 1,027

$12.57 KES 1,628

-36.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.97 KES 255

16.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 KES 303

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.75 KES 97.6

5.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.22 KES 3,008

$26.74 KES 3,464

-13.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 196

$0.76 KES 98.1

98.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.31 KES 170

16.79%

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

$21.5K KES 2.8M

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

$20.0K KES 2.6M

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

$34.39 KES 4,455

$15.25 KES 1,976

125.51%

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

$16.65 KES 2,157

$10.26 KES 1,329

62.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.66 KES 5,138

$24.87 KES 3,222

59.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.91 KES 2,968

$27.59 KES 3,574

-16.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 KES 781

$7.57 KES 981

-20.34%

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

$115 KES 14.9K

$163 KES 21.1K

-29.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,201 KES 1.1M

$4,961 KES 642.6K

65.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.50 KES 1,490

$9.76 KES 1,265

17.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.49 KES 2,524

$9.06 KES 1,174

115.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.54 KES 2,014

$15.31 KES 1,984

1.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$15.66 KES 2,028

$17.27 KES 2,238

-9.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 KES 17.9K

$177 KES 22.9K

-22.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 KES 13.8K

$114 KES 14.7K

-6.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 KES 45.5K

$266 KES 34.5K

31.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 KES 28.2K

$269 KES 34.8K

-18.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$772 KES 100.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 KES 99.5K

$228 KES 29.5K

236.88%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 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 237% 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 $24.00 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: $593 in Kisumu, $430 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 $890 per month in Kisumu and $645 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 $163 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 $593 in Kisumu and $430 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 $430 in Kilifi to $593 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.