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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Kenya is roughly 80% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86 KES 499
$16.17 A$22.94
-76.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.60 KES 4,474
$78.6 A$111
-55.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.94 KES 897
$9.48 A$13.45
-26.79%
Cappuccino
$2.29 KES 296
$3.56 A$5.05
-35.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 KES 91.4
$2.60 A$3.68
-72.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 69.4
$2.21 A$3.14
-75.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 KES 294
$6.47 A$9.18
-64.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 KES 356
$7.19 A$10.20
-61.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 KES 98.0
$1.56 A$2.21
-51.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 KES 64.6
$2.53 A$3.59
-80.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 KES 180
$2.02 A$2.87
-31.19%
Eggs
$1.55 KES 201
$4.47 A$6.34
-65.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 KES 1,346
$8.86 A$12.57
17.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 KES 812
$8.38 A$11.89
-25.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.12 KES 662
$13.71 A$19.44
-62.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 KES 365
$3.23 A$4.58
-12.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$2.84 A$4.03
-63.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 KES 235
$2.98 A$4.23
-38.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 KES 107
$4.38 A$6.21
-81.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 KES 104
$2.45 A$3.47
-66.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 KES 125
$2.11 A$3.00
-54.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 KES 81.4
$2.16 A$3.07
-70.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.4
$1.58 A$2.25
-55.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 KES 407
$30.61 A$43.42
-89.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.05 KES 1,171
$14.23 A$20.19
-36.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 KES 267
$4.55 A$6.45
-54.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 KES 337
$4.91 A$6.96
-46.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 102
$2.89 A$4.10
-72.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.95 KES 3,874
$97.5 A$138
-69.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 KES 204
$3.54 A$5.02
-55.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.75 A$2.48
-12.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 KES 395
$38.10 A$54.1
-91.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 KES 199
$1.16 A$1.64
32.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K KES 2.5M
$28.8K A$40.9K
-34.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K KES 2.3M
$23.2K A$32.9K
-22.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.85 KES 4,248
$179 A$254
-81.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.09 KES 1,952
$26.75 A$37.94
-43.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.04 KES 4,920
$53.7 A$76.2
-29.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.28 KES 4,820
$48.44 A$68.7
-23.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 KES 2,554
$16.88 A$23.95
17.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.36 KES 822
$13.61 A$19.31
-53.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 KES 21.5K
$1,605 A$2,276
-89.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,439 KES 962.0K
$12.7K A$18.1K
-41.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.03 KES 1,814
$71.4 A$101
-80.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.33 KES 2,759
$50.0 A$71.0
-57.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.61 KES 6,287
$99.8 A$142
-51.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.00 KES 6,078
$109 A$155
-56.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$305 KES 39.4K
$1,385 A$1,965
-78.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 KES 19.4K
$1,076 A$1,527
-86.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 KES 110.6K
$2,284 A$3,240
-62.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 KES 45.8K
$1,757 A$2,492
-79.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,411 KES 182.5K
$7,462 A$10.6K
-81.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$911 KES 117.8K
$5,617 A$7,968
-83.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 KES 44.3K
$4,070 A$5,773
-91.59%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $327 in Kenya vs $3,906 in Australia. 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
Kenya vs Australia: 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.

Kenya vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries