Isiolo vs Lamu Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Isiolo vs Lamu: everyday costs favor Lamu (~2% CPI gap), housing index favors Lamu, wage stretch favors Isiolo. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lamu
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (7% gap, Isiolo ahead); Purchasing Power (7% gap, Isiolo ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $15 lower in Lamu than in Isiolo (~6% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $15 (favoring Lamu).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lamu | CPI 17.8 vs 18.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lamu | Rent index 5.8 vs 6.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lamu | Groceries index 25.2 vs 26 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lamu | One-way ticket 38.16 vs 39.65 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lamu | Utilities (85m²) 1496.4 vs 1599.6 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Lamu | Internet 2266.53 vs 2338.77 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Isiolo | Restaurant index 15.6 vs 15.6 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Isiolo | Avg net salary 121569.6 vs 113571.6 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Isiolo | PP index 15.2 vs 14.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Isiolo leads with a 7% gap.
Avg net salary 121569.6 vs 113571.6 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lamu — Lower housing / rent index (6% gap).
- Families: Lamu — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lamu; purchasing power favors Isiolo.
- Remote Workers: Lamu — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lamu (~2% gap).
- Budget Living: Lamu — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lamu is the overall cost winner on CPI (~2% lower everyday-cost index than Isiolo).
- Housing: Lamu leads on rent index (6% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lamu is lower (3% gap).
- Purchasing power: Isiolo scores higher (7% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (7%), favoring Isiolo.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$15 cheaper in Lamu.
Analysis
Isiolo versus Lamu is not a single number. With a 2% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lamu, while housing follows Lamu's rent index. Purchasing power (15.2 vs 14.2) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.