Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Kilifi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kilifi: $634 a month against $858 in Nairobi, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. The total is higher in Nairobi despite lower rent and utilities.

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Cost of Living Index in Nairobi
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Nairobi Living Index

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Nairobi

🇰🇪 Kenya

$858

/mo nomad

Kilifi

🇰🇪 Kenya

$634

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nairobi and in Kilifi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nairobi and in Kilifi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $858 per month in Nairobi vs $634 in Kilifi, rent included.

Nairobi $858
Kilifi $634

A couple spends around $1,405 per month in Nairobi vs $1,049 in Kilifi, rent included.

Nairobi $1,405
Kilifi $1,049

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Nairobi vs $1,465 in Kilifi, rent included.

Nairobi $1,952
Kilifi $1,465

Nairobi costs about 35% more than Kilifi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nairobi and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 36% lower, Kilifi 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 KES 822

$1.90 KES 246

233.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 KES 4,417

$49.32 KES 6,394

-30.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 KES 831

$2.29 KES 297

179.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 KES 344

$1.99 KES 257

33.17%

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

$0.63 KES 81.3

$0.81 KES 105

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 78.3

$0.74 KES 96.2

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 295

$1.52 KES 196

49.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 361

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 KES 116

$1.06 KES 137

-16.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 73.0

$0.88 KES 114

-36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KES 247

$2.01 KES 260

-5.47%

Eggs

$1.72 KES 223

$1.94 KES 251

-11.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.83 KES 1,404

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 KES 846

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.38 KES 827

$7.89 KES 1,023

-19.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 KES 431

$2.28 KES 296

45.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 KES 143

$0.70 KES 90.9

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 KES 265

$1.79 KES 232

13.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 KES 142

$0.45 KES 57.7

144.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.79 KES 103

34.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

$0.79 KES 103

32.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 KES 95.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.22 KES 28.39

259.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 KES 451

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 KES 1,510

$12.67 KES 1,643

-8.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 286

$1.72 KES 222

28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 368

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 KES 100

$0.74 KES 95.7

4.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.01 KES 5,965

$26.67 KES 3,457

72.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 202

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 198

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 383

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 201

$1.32 KES 171

17.42%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

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)

$55.1 KES 7,145

$15.65 KES 2,029

252.14%

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

$15.13 KES 1,962

$10.43 KES 1,353

45.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.54 KES 4,478

$25.11 KES 3,255

37.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 KES 6,500

$27.40 KES 3,552

82.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 KES 2,010

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 KES 982

$7.52 KES 974

0.66%

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

$251 KES 32.5K

$160 KES 20.8K

56.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K KES 1.6M

$4,984 KES 646.1K

148.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.61 KES 3,580

$9.82 KES 1,273

181.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.05 KES 3,766

$8.90 KES 1,154

226.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 KES 9,205

$15.50 KES 2,009

358.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 KES 7,679

$17.60 KES 2,282

236.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 KES 57.0K

$329 KES 42.7K

33.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 KES 27.8K

$303 KES 39.3K

-29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 KES 144.1K

$273 KES 35.4K

307.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 KES 64.7K

$570 KES 73.9K

-12.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,324 KES 171.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$912 KES 118.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 KES 62.2K

$227 KES 29.4K

111.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

83.88%

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

Last update for Nairobi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nairobi

$214 25%

Kilifi

–

Groceries & Markets

Nairobi

$208 24.2%

Kilifi

–

Eating Out

Nairobi

$124 14.4%

Kilifi

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nairobi

$105 12.2%

Kilifi

–

Clothing & Footwear

Nairobi

$84 9.8%

Kilifi

–

Sport & Entertainment

Nairobi

$65 7.6%

Kilifi

–

Getting Around

Nairobi

$58 6.8%

Kilifi

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Nairobi versus $329 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 112% 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 $34.00 in Nairobi versus $49.00 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Nairobi vs $124 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇰🇪 Nairobi

🇰🇪 Kilifi

🕒 Local time

09:23 9:23 AM

Same time as Nairobi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,138,295 Capital

122,899

💱 Currency

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Nairobi Kilifi 430 km

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $858 in Nairobi, $634 in Kilifi – roughly 35% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,287 per month in Nairobi and $951 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 $251 per month in Nairobi and $160 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Nairobi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Nairobi at $858. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nairobi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nairobi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $634 in Kilifi to $858 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.