🙂A single person spends $463 per month in Kenya vs $2,547 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $761 per month in Kenya vs $3,678 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,058 per month in Kenya vs $4,808 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Kenya is roughly 82% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Kenya sits 66% below the global median, while Australia is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21KES 415
$17.74A$24.56
-81.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.98KES 4,008
$86.9A$120
-64.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51KES 842
$11.35A$15.71
-42.64%
Cappuccino
$2.40KES 311
$3.99A$5.53
-39.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57KES 74.0
$2.97A$4.11
-80.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54KES 70.4
$2.51A$3.47
-78.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27KES 294
$7.75A$10.73
-70.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73KES 354
$8.07A$11.17
-66.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78KES 101
$1.76A$2.44
-55.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50KES 64.5
$2.87A$3.97
-82.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50KES 194
$2.37A$3.28
-36.71%
Eggs
$1.59KES 206
$5.11A$7.08
-68.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96KES 1,159
$10.13A$14.03
-11.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06KES 784
$9.57A$13.25
-36.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.25KES 679
$15.59A$21.59
-66.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77KES 358
$3.83A$5.30
-27.68%
Banana(1kg)
$0.95KES 123
$3.13A$4.33
-69.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72KES 223
$3.35A$4.64
-48.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.83KES 107
$4.88A$6.75
-82.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86KES 111
$2.92A$4.04
-70.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88KES 114
$2.36A$3.27
-62.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74KES 96.0
$2.46A$3.40
-69.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57KES 74.2
$1.70A$2.36
-66.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25KES 420
$39.46A$54.6
-91.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.54KES 1,364
$14.69A$20.34
-28.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06KES 267
$5.07A$7.02
-59.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65KES 343
$5.36A$7.43
-50.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79KES 103
$2.84A$3.93
-72.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.94KES 5,038
$97.3A$135
-59.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54KES 199
$3.56A$4.93
-56.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53KES 198
$1.68A$2.33
-8.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95KES 382
$40.94A$56.7
-92.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51KES 196
$1.35A$1.87
11.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KKES 2.5M
$29.1KA$40.2K
-34.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5KKES 2.4M
$29.5KA$40.8K
-37.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.7KES 6,949
$207A$287
-74.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70KES 1,772
$29.34A$40.62
-53.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.41KES 4,710
$60.0A$83.1
-39.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.63KES 5,127
$59.3A$82.1
-33.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.10KES 1,953
$20.28A$28.07
-25.54%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91KES 1,023
$16.04A$22.21
-50.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171KES 22.1K
$2,194A$3,037
-92.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,260KES 1.2M
$18.6KA$25.8K
-50.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.80KES 2,303
$81.1A$112
-78.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.97KES 2,584
$56.9A$78.8
-64.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.39KES 4,966
$119A$164
-67.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.09KES 5,575
$126A$175
-65.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$299KES 38.7K
$1,637A$2,266
-81.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152KES 19.7K
$1,306A$1,808
-88.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798KES 103.3K
$2,589A$3,584
-69.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386KES 50.0K
$1,963A$2,717
-80.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,259KES 162.8K
$8,394A$11.6K
-85.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$935KES 120.9K
$6,140A$8,500
-84.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$349KES 45.1K
$4,067A$5,631
-91.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.64
5.93
130.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kenya: September 5, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $97.0 in Kenya vs $1,426 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $452 in Nairobi and $1,845 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $334 in Kenya vs $3,945 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1370% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 193% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1043% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 1081% 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 447% 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 447% 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.