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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Nairobi costs about 82% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 KES 693

$2.27 KES 294

135.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.02 KES 4,926

$50.9 KES 6,593

-25.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 KES 895

$2.37 KES 307

191.56%

Cappuccino

$2.39 KES 309

$1.91 KES 248

25.13%

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

$0.71 KES 91.9

$0.80 KES 103

-11.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.6

$0.76 KES 98.2

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 KES 299

$1.89 KES 245

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 385

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

$0.88 KES 114

6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.3

$0.75 KES 97.2

-29.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 212

$1.96 KES 254

-16.33%

Eggs

$1.69 KES 218

$1.88 KES 243

-10.11%

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)

$3.03 KES 392

$2.28 KES 295

32.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$0.90 KES 117

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 269

$1.79 KES 232

16.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.70 KES 90.2

48.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 138

$0.64 KES 82.5

65.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 150

$0.60 KES 77.6

91.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.24 KES 31.25

229.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 394

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 KES 1,511

$12.57 KES 1,628

-7.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 288

$1.97 KES 255

12.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.75 KES 97.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 KES 3,963

$26.74 KES 3,464

14.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 195

$0.76 KES 98.1

97.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 KES 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.31 KES 170

19.08%

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)

$34.70 KES 4,495

$15.25 KES 1,976

127.54%

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

$16.60 KES 2,151

$10.26 KES 1,329

61.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,122

$24.87 KES 3,222

58.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.29 KES 5,608

$27.59 KES 3,574

56.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,672

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 KES 787

$7.57 KES 981

-19.82%

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

$202 KES 26.1K

$163 KES 21.1K

23.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,140 KES 1.1M

$4,961 KES 642.6K

64.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,368

$9.76 KES 1,265

87.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.56 KES 3,053

$9.06 KES 1,174

160.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,605

$15.31 KES 1,984

333.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.7 KES 7,339

$17.27 KES 2,238

228.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 KES 58.3K

$177 KES 22.9K

154.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 KES 23.9K

$114 KES 14.7K

62.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 KES 146.9K

$266 KES 34.5K

325.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 KES 54.1K

$269 KES 34.8K

55.34%

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)

$416 KES 53.9K

$228 KES 29.5K

82.60%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 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: $782 in Nairobi, $430 in Kilifi – roughly 82% apart. Nairobi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,174 per month in Nairobi 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 $202 per month in Nairobi 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 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 $782 in Nairobi and $430 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 $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.