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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $463 per month in Kenya vs $2,217 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $761 per month in Kenya vs $3,254 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,058 per month in Kenya vs $4,291 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Kenya is roughly 79% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 66% below the global median, while Canada is 61% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.21 KES 415
$18.28 CA$25.23
-82.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.98 KES 4,008
$71.2 CA$98.3
-56.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.51 KES 842
$10.96 CA$15.13
-40.60%
Cappuccino
$2.40 KES 311
$3.95 CA$5.45
-39.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 KES 74.0
$2.07 CA$2.86
-72.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 70.4
$1.74 CA$2.41
-68.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 KES 294
$5.93 CA$8.19
-61.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 KES 354
$5.69 CA$7.85
-52.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 KES 101
$2.23 CA$3.08
-65.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 KES 64.5
$2.71 CA$3.75
-81.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 KES 194
$3.72 CA$5.14
-59.68%
Eggs
$1.59 KES 206
$3.61 CA$4.99
-55.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 KES 1,159
$10.81 CA$14.92
-17.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.06 KES 784
$12.22 CA$16.87
-50.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.25 KES 679
$15.68 CA$21.65
-66.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 KES 358
$4.25 CA$5.86
-34.82%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 KES 123
$1.43 CA$1.97
-33.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 KES 223
$4.02 CA$5.55
-57.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.83 KES 107
$4.09 CA$5.65
-79.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 KES 111
$2.68 CA$3.70
-67.91%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 KES 114
$2.45 CA$3.39
-64.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 KES 96.0
$2.67 CA$3.68
-72.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 KES 74.2
$1.80 CA$2.49
-68.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 KES 420
$14.46 CA$19.96
-77.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.54 KES 1,364
$13.58 CA$18.75
-22.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 KES 267
$2.84 CA$3.92
-27.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 KES 343
$3.26 CA$4.50
-18.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 103
$2.46 CA$3.39
-67.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.94 KES 5,038
$75.2 CA$104
-48.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 KES 199
$3.15 CA$4.35
-51.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.54 CA$2.13
-0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 KES 382
$27.55 CA$38.03
-89.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 KES 196
$1.16 CA$1.60
30.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K KES 2.5M
$28.4K CA$39.2K
-32.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5K KES 2.4M
$19.5K CA$26.9K
-4.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.7 KES 6,949
$155 CA$214
-65.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70 KES 1,772
$43.47 CA$60.0
-68.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.41 KES 4,710
$60.4 CA$83.4
-39.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.63 KES 5,127
$41.15 CA$56.8
-3.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.10 KES 1,953
$19.79 CA$27.32
-23.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 KES 1,023
$11.53 CA$15.91
-31.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 KES 22.1K
$786 CA$1,084
-78.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,260 KES 1.2M
$14.8K CA$20.5K
-37.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.80 KES 2,303
$55.0 CA$75.9
-67.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.97 KES 2,584
$41.25 CA$56.9
-51.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.39 KES 4,966
$88.1 CA$122
-56.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.09 KES 5,575
$106 CA$146
-59.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 KES 38.7K
$1,295 CA$1,788
-76.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 KES 19.7K
$1,168 CA$1,612
-86.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 KES 103.3K
$2,044 CA$2,822
-60.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 KES 50.0K
$1,779 CA$2,456
-78.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,259 KES 162.8K
$4,786 CA$6,607
-73.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$935 KES 120.9K
$3,973 CA$5,485
-76.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$349 KES 45.1K
$3,078 CA$4,250
-88.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.64
4.86
180.66%

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

Last update for Kenya: September 5, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $97.0 in Kenya vs $1,228 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $452 in Nairobi and $1,496 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $334 in Kenya vs $2,981 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1166% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 128% more in Canada.

Public transport is 757% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 793% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.

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 461% 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 461% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 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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