Kilifi vs Lamu Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Lamu leads on CPI (17.8 vs 17.9, NYC=100), Lamu leads on rent index, and Kilifi leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Lamu
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (2% gap, Lamu ahead); Utilities (2% gap, Lamu ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $4 lower in Lamu than in Kilifi (~2% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $4 (favoring Lamu).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lamu | CPI 17.8 vs 17.9 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lamu | Rent index 5.8 vs 5.9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lamu | Groceries index 25.2 vs 25.3 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lamu | One-way ticket 38.16 vs 38.53 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lamu | Utilities (85m²) 1496.4 vs 1522.2 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Lamu | Internet 2266.53 vs 2275.56 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Kilifi | Restaurant index 15.6 vs 15.6 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Kilifi | Avg net salary 115171.2 vs 113571.6 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Kilifi | PP index 14.4 vs 14.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Lamu leads with a 2% gap.
Rent index 5.8 vs 5.9 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lamu — Lower housing / rent index (2% gap).
- Families: Lamu — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lamu; purchasing power favors Kilifi.
- Remote Workers: Lamu — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lamu (~1% gap).
- Budget Living: Lamu — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lamu is the overall cost winner on CPI (~1% lower everyday-cost index than Kilifi).
- Housing: Lamu leads on rent index (2% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lamu is lower (0% gap).
- Purchasing power: Kilifi scores higher (1% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$4 cheaper in Lamu.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 17.9/17.8, rent 5.9/5.8, purchasing power 14.4/14.2. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
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.