Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and KenyaCost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Kenya
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $443 in Kenya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $736 in Kenya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Italy versus $1,029 in Kenya.
😐Living in Italy is roughly 288% more expensive than Kenya on average.
📊Italy (28% above) and Kenya (67% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,158 to $2,441, compared to $0–$763 in Kenya. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€14.63
$3.97KES 513
333.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€67.7
$35.26KES 4,551
125.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.53€9.81
$6.79KES 876
69.81%
Cappuccino
$1.95€1.66
$2.28KES 294
-14.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.52
$0.72KES 92.8
312.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.16
$0.51KES 65.6
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.80
$2.26KES 292
149.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18€4.41
$2.63KES 340
96.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.38
$0.75KES 97.0
116.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40€2.04
$0.50KES 64.5
380.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.49
$1.35KES 174
117.04%
Eggs
$3.96€3.37
$1.53KES 198
158.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.71€14.22
$10.56KES 1,363
58.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.63€10.75
$6.62KES 854
90.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.75€17.66
$5.24KES 676
295.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.13
$2.84KES 367
-11.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24€1.91
$1.03KES 133
117.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.28
$1.88KES 242
42.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35€2.85
$0.90KES 116
272.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.73
$0.87KES 113
133.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.56
$0.95KES 123
93.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.29
$0.68KES 87.3
123.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$0.70KES 90.7
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€5.88
$3.07KES 397
125.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.23€6.15
$9.91KES 1,280
-27.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.56
$2.04KES 264
-10.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.14
$2.66KES 343
-5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Kenya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93€1.64
$0.79KES 103
144.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.04€36.63
$29.86KES 3,854
44.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.63€4.80
$1.51KES 195
272.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.30
$1.51KES 195
0.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.84€29.65
$3.02KES 390
1053.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.72
$1.48KES 191
36.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K€28.0K
$19.2KKES 2.5M
71.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K€28.6K
$18.0KKES 2.3M
87.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221€188
$33.01KES 4,260
569.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55€11.53
$14.90KES 1,923
-9.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.59€26.88
$38.55KES 4,976
-18.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€48.85
$37.86KES 4,886
51.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.69€21.86
$20.16KES 2,602
27.43%
Cinema Ticket
$10.24€8.72
$6.30KES 813
62.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579€493
$161KES 20.7K
260.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€8,951
$7,594KES 980.2K
38.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2€78.5
$14.05KES 1,814
556.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.41€34.39
$21.20KES 2,737
90.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.0
$49.42KES 6,379
104.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€113
$47.02KES 6,069
182.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Kenya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851€724
$307KES 39.6K
176.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655€557
$148KES 19.1K
342.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,515€1,290
$845KES 109.1K
79.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,076€915
$352KES 45.4K
205.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,967€3,376
$1,402KES 180.9K
182.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,426€2,064
$922KES 119.0K
163.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Kenya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,938€1,649
$342KES 44.1K
466.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
13.57
-67.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: April 14, 2026
Last update for Kenya: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $83 in Kenya. Capital cities: $1,362 in Rome vs $449 in Nairobi.
💰National salary averages: $1,938 in Italy, $325 in Kenya. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 795% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 161% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 529% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 496% higher in Italy, giving Italy 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
Italy vs Kenya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Kenya?
At $1,800 per month in Italy and $382 in Kenya, there's a 372% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Kenya is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Italy beats Kenya across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Italy or Kenya?
In Kenya, $1,200 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Kenya?
It depends on what you're after. Kenya wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.