Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Kenya Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Kenya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,182 per month in Australia vs $443 in Kenya, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Australia vs $736 in Kenya, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,250 per month in Australia vs $1,028 in Kenya, rent included.

Australia costs about 393% more than Kenya on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Kenya is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 A$22.94
$3.86 KES 499
318.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$111
$34.60 KES 4,474
127.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 A$13.45
$6.94 KES 897
36.60%
Cappuccino
$3.56 A$5.05
$2.29 KES 296
55.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 A$3.68
$0.71 KES 91.4
266.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.14
$0.54 KES 69.4
309.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.47 A$9.18
$2.27 KES 294
185.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 A$10.20
$2.75 KES 356
161.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 A$2.21
$0.76 KES 98.0
105.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.59
$0.50 KES 64.6
406.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 A$2.87
$1.39 KES 180
45.32%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.34
$1.55 KES 201
188.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 A$12.57
$10.41 KES 1,346
-14.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.38 A$11.89
$6.28 KES 812
33.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.44
$5.12 KES 662
167.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 A$4.58
$2.82 KES 365
14.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.03
$1.03 KES 133
175.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.23
$1.82 KES 235
63.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 A$6.21
$0.82 KES 107
434.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.47
$0.81 KES 104
202.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 A$3.00
$0.96 KES 125
119.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 A$3.07
$0.63 KES 81.4
242.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 A$2.25
$0.70 KES 90.4
125.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.61 A$43.42
$3.15 KES 407
871.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 A$20.19
$9.05 KES 1,171
57.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.45
$2.07 KES 267
119.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$6.96
$2.61 KES 337
88.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Kenya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 A$4.10
$0.79 KES 102
265.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.5 A$138
$29.95 KES 3,874
225.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 A$5.02
$1.58 KES 204
124.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.48
$1.53 KES 198
14.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.10 A$54.1
$3.05 KES 395
1149.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.64
$1.54 KES 199
-24.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K A$40.9K
$19.0K KES 2.5M
51.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K A$32.9K
$18.0K KES 2.3M
28.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 A$254
$32.85 KES 4,248
444.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.75 A$37.94
$15.09 KES 1,952
77.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 A$76.2
$38.04 KES 4,920
41.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.44 A$68.7
$37.28 KES 4,820
29.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 A$23.95
$19.75 KES 2,554
-14.53%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61 A$19.31
$6.36 KES 822
113.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,605 A$2,276
$166 KES 21.5K
866.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$18.1K
$7,439 KES 962.0K
71.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4 A$101
$14.03 KES 1,814
408.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 A$71.0
$21.33 KES 2,759
134.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 A$142
$48.61 KES 6,287
105.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 A$155
$47.00 KES 6,078
131.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Kenya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,385 A$1,965
$305 KES 39.4K
354.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 A$1,527
$150 KES 19.4K
615.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 A$3,240
$855 KES 110.6K
167.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,757 A$2,492
$354 KES 45.8K
396.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,462 A$10.6K
$1,411 KES 182.5K
428.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,617 A$7,968
$911 KES 117.8K
516.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Kenya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 A$5,773
$342 KES 44.3K
1088.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
13.57
-53.21%

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

Last update for Australia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kenya: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,233 in Australia vs $83.0 in Kenya. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,548 in Canberra and $450 in Nairobi.

Average salary: $3,906 in Australia vs $327 in Kenya. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1386% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 175% more in Australia.

Public transport is 857% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1094% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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
Australia vs Kenya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Kenya?
Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 455% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Kenya, contributing to the overall 455% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or Kenya?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Kenya, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Kenya?
Kenya is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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