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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $844 per month in Nairobi vs $630 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,376 per month in Nairobi vs $1,038 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,908 per month in Nairobi vs $1,446 in Kilifi, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 34% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nairobi and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 39% lower, Kilifi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.75 KES 485

$1.96 KES 254

91.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 KES 4,533

$49.48 KES 6,402

-29.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 KES 816

$2.37 KES 307

166.24%

Cappuccino

$2.70 KES 350

$1.96 KES 254

37.76%

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

$0.60 KES 77.5

$0.81 KES 104

-25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 KES 67.2

$0.75 KES 96.7

-30.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 KES 302

$1.56 KES 202

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 KES 116

$1.09 KES 141

-18.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 KES 73.3

$0.83 KES 108

-31.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 KES 240

$2.06 KES 267

-10.19%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

$1.93 KES 250

-11.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 KES 1,365

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 KES 815

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.09 KES 788

$7.95 KES 1,028

-23.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 KES 438

$2.34 KES 303

44.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 KES 130

$0.72 KES 93.2

38.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 KES 253

$1.72 KES 223

13.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 138

$0.48 KES 61.7

120.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.80 KES 104

32.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.78 KES 101

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 KES 94.3

$0.24 KES 31.05

204.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 KES 439

Wine (Bottle)

$11.53 KES 1,492

$12.50 KES 1,617

-7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 287

$1.72 KES 223

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 KES 352

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 KES 96.2

$0.78 KES 101

-5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.72 KES 6,045

$26.93 KES 3,485

73.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 KES 194

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 381

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 196

$1.38 KES 178

10.14%

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

$20.1K KES 2.6M

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

$19.6K KES 2.5M

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

$62.0 KES 8,021

$15.34 KES 1,985

304.11%

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

$15.43 KES 1,996

$10.23 KES 1,323

50.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.66 KES 4,484

$25.09 KES 3,246

38.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 KES 6,593

$28.14 KES 3,641

81.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.56 KES 1,884

Cinema Ticket

$7.92 KES 1,025

$7.51 KES 971

5.46%

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

$234 KES 30.3K

$161 KES 20.8K

45.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$4,960 KES 641.7K

132.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.93 KES 3,485

$9.61 KES 1,243

180.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.62 KES 3,315

$9.06 KES 1,172

182.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 KES 8,306

$15.33 KES 1,983

318.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 KES 7,731

$17.41 KES 2,252

243.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 KES 59.3K

$328 KES 42.5K

39.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 KES 27.2K

$307 KES 39.8K

-31.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 KES 149.0K

$273 KES 35.4K

321.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 KES 65.4K

$564 KES 72.9K

-10.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,344 KES 173.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$912 KES 118.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 KES 61.2K

$228 KES 29.4K

107.84%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Nairobi versus $328 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 108% 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 $35.00 in Nairobi versus $49.00 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Nairobi vs $125 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: $844 in Nairobi, $630 in Kilifi – roughly 34% apart. Nairobi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,266 per month in Nairobi and $944 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 $234 per month in Nairobi and $161 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% 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 $630, than in Nairobi at $844. 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 $630 in Kilifi to $844 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.