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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $444 per month in Kenya vs $2,186 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $737 per month in Kenya vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,029 per month in Kenya vs $4,252 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Kenya is roughly 80% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 67% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 KES 509
$16.37 A$23.38
-75.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.90 KES 4,509
$77.7 A$111
-55.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.14 KES 922
$9.59 A$13.70
-25.55%
Cappuccino
$2.30 KES 297
$3.45 A$4.93
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.9
$2.63 A$3.76
-73.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 68.9
$2.14 A$3.06
-75.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 KES 304
$6.34 A$9.06
-62.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 KES 340
$7.03 A$10.04
-62.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 KES 106
$1.52 A$2.18
-46.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 KES 65.7
$2.50 A$3.57
-79.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 KES 181
$2.06 A$2.95
-32.04%
Eggs
$1.57 KES 202
$4.22 A$6.03
-62.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.27 KES 1,327
$8.96 A$12.80
14.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 KES 837
$8.35 A$11.93
-22.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.15 KES 666
$13.74 A$19.62
-62.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 KES 368
$3.14 A$4.48
-9.24%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 KES 126
$2.73 A$3.90
-64.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 KES 241
$2.93 A$4.19
-36.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 KES 115
$4.43 A$6.33
-79.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 KES 105
$2.56 A$3.66
-67.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 KES 123
$2.12 A$3.03
-55.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 KES 88.0
$2.18 A$3.11
-68.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.3
$1.57 A$2.24
-55.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 KES 396
$30.82 A$44.02
-90.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.41 KES 1,216
$14.17 A$20.24
-33.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 KES 263
$4.60 A$6.57
-55.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 KES 347
$4.87 A$6.96
-44.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 KES 98.1
$2.99 A$4.27
-74.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.64 KES 3,830
$96.7 A$138
-69.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 KES 198
$3.53 A$5.04
-56.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 KES 204
$1.81 A$2.59
-12.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 KES 395
$37.32 A$53.3
-91.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 KES 200
$1.16 A$1.66
33.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K KES 2.5M
$29.4K A$42.1K
-34.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K KES 2.3M
$22.6K A$32.2K
-21.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.80 KES 4,238
$176 A$251
-81.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.12 KES 1,954
$26.75 A$38.20
-43.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.73 KES 5,003
$53.9 A$76.9
-28.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.97 KES 4,776
$47.11 A$67.3
-21.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.61 KES 2,534
$16.57 A$23.66
18.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21 KES 802
$13.42 A$19.17
-53.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$165 KES 21.3K
$1,572 A$2,245
-89.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,582 KES 979.6K
$12.7K A$18.2K
-40.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.42 KES 1,863
$70.8 A$101
-79.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.06 KES 2,721
$50.0 A$71.4
-57.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.21 KES 6,358
$101 A$144
-51.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.77 KES 5,914
$111 A$159
-58.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 KES 39.2K
$1,372 A$1,960
-77.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 KES 19.1K
$1,077 A$1,537
-86.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$859 KES 111.0K
$2,353 A$3,361
-63.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 KES 46.1K
$1,747 A$2,496
-79.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,424 KES 184.0K
$7,882 A$11.3K
-81.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$937 KES 121.1K
$5,906 A$8,435
-84.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 KES 45.0K
$3,960 A$5,656
-91.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.57
6.35
113.70%

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

Last update for Kenya: July 19, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $82.0 in Kenya vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $446 in Nairobi and $1,556 in Canberra.

Average salary: $328 in Kenya vs $3,824 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1400% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 175% more in Australia.

Public transport is 857% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1066% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Kenya vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Kenya?
Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 461% 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 461% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to 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.

Kenya vs other spots: cost of living compared

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