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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Nairobi vs $436 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Nairobi vs $782 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,832 per month in Nairobi vs $1,128 in Kilifi, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 75% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nairobi and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 43% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 KES 717

$2.25 KES 291

146.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.48 KES 4,972

$50.9 KES 6,573

-24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 KES 858

$2.30 KES 297

188.70%

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 322

$1.90 KES 246

31.05%

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

$0.70 KES 91.1

$0.74 KES 95.8

-5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

$0.78 KES 101

-35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 KES 305

$1.98 KES 256

19.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 366

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.88 KES 114

-2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.6

$0.81 KES 104

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 KES 207

$1.90 KES 246

-15.79%

Eggs

$1.68 KES 216

$1.80 KES 233

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 KES 1,513

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 KES 893

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 KES 729

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 KES 398

$2.31 KES 298

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$0.85 KES 109

25.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 KES 266

$1.83 KES 236

12.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.66 KES 84.7

57.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.64 KES 83.0

67.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 149

$0.64 KES 82.4

79.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.24 KES 31.15

212.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 KES 1,523

$12.82 KES 1,656

-8.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 285

$1.95 KES 253

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.4

$0.78 KES 101

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.90 KES 3,992

$27.55 KES 3,559

12.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 193

$0.80 KES 103

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.37 KES 177

11.68%

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)

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$33.74 KES 4,359

$15.61 KES 2,017

116.14%

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

$16.72 KES 2,160

$10.28 KES 1,329

62.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.94 KES 5,032

$25.26 KES 3,263

54.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.13 KES 5,573

$28.03 KES 3,622

53.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 KES 2,664

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 KES 822

$7.62 KES 985

-16.54%

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

$205 KES 26.5K

$162 KES 20.9K

26.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,113 KES 1.0M

$5,072 KES 655.3K

59.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.49 KES 2,389

$9.52 KES 1,229

94.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.69 KES 3,061

$8.67 KES 1,121

173.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 KES 8,308

$15.59 KES 2,014

312.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,184

$17.13 KES 2,213

224.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 KES 56.6K

$177 KES 22.8K

147.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 KES 24.1K

$113 KES 14.6K

65.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 KES 147.5K

$275 KES 35.5K

315.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 KES 55.8K

$266 KES 34.4K

62.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 KES 197.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$909 KES 117.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 KES 55.7K

$235 KES 30.4K

83.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

85.50%

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

Last update for Nairobi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Nairobi 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 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 $38.00 in Nairobi versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Nairobi 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

Nairobi vs Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $765 in Nairobi, $436 in Kilifi – roughly 75% apart. Nairobi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Nairobi 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 $205 per month in Nairobi 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 106% 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 $765 in Nairobi and $436 in Kilifi, 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 $436 in Kilifi to $765 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.