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 $2,183 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $736 per month in Kenya vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,029 per month in Kenya vs $4,254 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 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,609$2,768) than Kenya ($0$763), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97 KES 513
$16.48 A$23.08
-75.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26 KES 4,551
$76.8 A$108
-54.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 KES 876
$9.50 A$13.29
-28.53%
Cappuccino
$2.28 KES 294
$3.41 A$4.77
-33.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 92.8
$2.59 A$3.62
-72.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 KES 65.6
$2.20 A$3.08
-76.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 KES 292
$6.35 A$8.89
-64.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 KES 340
$7.00 A$9.80
-62.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 KES 97.0
$1.49 A$2.09
-49.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 KES 64.5
$2.44 A$3.41
-79.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 KES 174
$2.09 A$2.92
-35.41%
Eggs
$1.53 KES 198
$4.31 A$6.04
-64.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 KES 1,363
$8.99 A$12.58
17.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 KES 854
$8.47 A$11.85
-21.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.24 KES 676
$13.71 A$19.19
-61.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 KES 367
$3.15 A$4.41
-9.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$2.70 A$3.78
-61.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 KES 242
$2.89 A$4.05
-34.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 KES 116
$4.42 A$6.19
-79.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 KES 113
$2.51 A$3.51
-65.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 KES 123
$2.09 A$2.93
-54.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 KES 87.3
$2.28 A$3.19
-70.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.7
$1.52 A$2.12
-53.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 KES 397
$31.27 A$43.77
-90.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 KES 1,280
$14.43 A$20.20
-31.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 KES 264
$4.44 A$6.21
-54.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 KES 343
$5.03 A$7.05
-47.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 103
$2.86 A$4.00
-72.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.86 KES 3,854
$96.7 A$135
-69.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 KES 195
$3.67 A$5.14
-58.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 KES 195
$1.75 A$2.45
-13.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 KES 390
$37.40 A$52.4
-91.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 KES 191
$1.16 A$1.63
27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K KES 2.5M
$29.2K A$40.9K
-34.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K KES 2.3M
$22.5K A$31.6K
-20.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.01 KES 4,260
$175 A$245
-81.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90 KES 1,923
$25.88 A$36.23
-42.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.55 KES 4,976
$52.3 A$73.3
-26.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.86 KES 4,886
$46.98 A$65.8
-19.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 KES 2,602
$16.32 A$22.85
23.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 KES 813
$13.87 A$19.41
-54.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 KES 20.7K
$1,587 A$2,221
-89.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,594 KES 980.2K
$12.7K A$17.8K
-40.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.05 KES 1,814
$70.3 A$98.4
-80.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.20 KES 2,737
$49.95 A$69.9
-57.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.42 KES 6,379
$101 A$141
-50.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 KES 6,069
$112 A$156
-57.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 KES 39.6K
$1,406 A$1,968
-78.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 KES 19.1K
$1,109 A$1,552
-86.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 KES 109.1K
$2,269 A$3,176
-62.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 KES 45.4K
$1,772 A$2,480
-80.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,402 KES 180.9K
$7,610 A$10.7K
-81.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$922 KES 119.0K
$5,713 A$7,999
-83.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 KES 44.1K
$3,890 A$5,447
-91.21%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $83 in Kenya vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $449 in Nairobi and $1,580 in Canberra.

Average salary: $325 in Kenya vs $3,821 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1384% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 175% more in Australia.

Public transport is 857% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1076% 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 474% 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 474% 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