Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $443 per month in Kenya vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $736 per month in Kenya vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,028 per month in Kenya vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.

Kenya is roughly 81% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 67% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86 KES 499
$18.44 CA$25.70
-79.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.60 KES 4,474
$74.5 CA$104
-53.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.94 KES 897
$10.88 CA$15.17
-36.21%
Cappuccino
$2.29 KES 296
$3.90 CA$5.43
-41.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 KES 91.4
$2.16 CA$3.01
-67.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 69.4
$1.73 CA$2.42
-68.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 KES 294
$5.74 CA$8.00
-60.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 KES 356
$6.05 CA$8.43
-54.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 KES 98.0
$2.20 CA$3.07
-65.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 KES 64.6
$2.75 CA$3.84
-81.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 KES 180
$3.66 CA$5.10
-62.02%
Eggs
$1.55 KES 201
$3.63 CA$5.07
-57.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 KES 1,346
$11.72 CA$16.33
-11.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 KES 812
$12.28 CA$17.12
-48.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.12 KES 662
$14.88 CA$20.74
-65.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 KES 365
$4.14 CA$5.76
-31.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$1.45 CA$2.03
-28.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 KES 235
$3.79 CA$5.29
-51.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 KES 107
$4.09 CA$5.69
-79.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 KES 104
$2.73 CA$3.81
-70.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 KES 125
$2.77 CA$3.86
-65.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 KES 81.4
$2.62 CA$3.65
-75.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.4
$1.87 CA$2.60
-62.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 KES 407
$14.79 CA$20.61
-78.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.05 KES 1,171
$13.08 CA$18.23
-30.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 KES 267
$3.03 CA$4.22
-31.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 KES 337
$3.41 CA$4.75
-23.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 102
$2.52 CA$3.51
-68.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.95 KES 3,874
$77.9 CA$109
-61.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 KES 204
$3.49 CA$4.86
-54.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.48 CA$2.06
3.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 KES 395
$28.25 CA$39.38
-89.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 KES 199
$1.15 CA$1.60
33.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K KES 2.5M
$25.4K CA$35.5K
-25.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K KES 2.3M
$20.6K CA$28.8K
-12.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.85 KES 4,248
$155 CA$216
-78.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.09 KES 1,952
$45.76 CA$63.8
-67.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.04 KES 4,920
$62.2 CA$86.6
-38.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.28 KES 4,820
$43.67 CA$60.9
-14.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 KES 2,554
$18.14 CA$25.28
8.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.36 KES 822
$11.38 CA$15.86
-44.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 KES 21.5K
$798 CA$1,112
-79.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,439 KES 962.0K
$12.1K CA$16.9K
-38.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.03 KES 1,814
$56.8 CA$79.2
-75.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.33 KES 2,759
$42.19 CA$58.8
-49.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.61 KES 6,287
$87.9 CA$123
-44.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.00 KES 6,078
$106 CA$148
-55.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$305 KES 39.4K
$1,359 CA$1,894
-77.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 KES 19.4K
$1,204 CA$1,678
-87.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 KES 110.6K
$2,136 CA$2,977
-59.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 KES 45.8K
$1,860 CA$2,592
-80.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,411 KES 182.5K
$4,642 CA$6,469
-69.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$911 KES 117.8K
$3,852 CA$5,368
-76.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 KES 44.3K
$3,029 CA$4,221
-88.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.57
6.33
114.38%

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

Last update for Kenya: May 30, 2026

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $83.0 in Kenya vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $450 in Nairobi and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $327 in Kenya vs $2,972 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1443% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 143% more in Canada.

Public transport is 829% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 809% higher in Canada, giving Canada 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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Kenya?
Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 464% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Kenya, contributing to the overall 464% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Canada or Kenya?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Kenya, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada 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

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