Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and ItalyCost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and Italy
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $443 in Kenya versus $1,718 in Italy.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Kenya versus $2,623 in Italy.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,029 in Kenya versus $3,527 in Italy.
🙂Living in Kenya costs about 74% less than in Italy on average.
📊Kenya (67% below) and Italy (28% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,158 to $2,441, compared to $0–$763 in Kenya. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97KES 513
$17.19€14.63
-76.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26KES 4,551
$79.5€67.7
-55.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.79KES 876
$11.53€9.81
-41.11%
Cappuccino
$2.28KES 294
$1.95€1.66
16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72KES 92.8
$2.97€2.52
-75.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51KES 65.6
$1.36€1.16
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26KES 292
$5.64€4.80
-59.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63KES 340
$5.18€4.41
-49.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75KES 97.0
$1.62€1.38
-53.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50KES 64.5
$2.40€2.04
-79.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35KES 174
$2.93€2.49
-53.92%
Eggs
$1.53KES 198
$3.96€3.37
-61.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56KES 1,363
$16.71€14.22
-36.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.62KES 854
$12.63€10.75
-47.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.24KES 676
$20.75€17.66
-74.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84KES 367
$2.51€2.13
13.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03KES 133
$2.24€1.91
-54.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88KES 242
$2.68€2.28
-29.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90KES 116
$3.35€2.85
-73.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87KES 113
$2.03€1.73
-57.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95KES 123
$1.84€1.56
-48.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68KES 87.3
$1.52€1.29
-55.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70KES 90.7
$0.50€0.43
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07KES 397
$6.91€5.88
-55.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.91KES 1,280
$7.23€6.15
37.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04KES 264
$1.83€1.56
11.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66KES 343
$2.52€2.14
5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79KES 103
$1.93€1.64
-59.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.86KES 3,854
$43.04€36.63
-30.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51KES 195
$5.63€4.80
-73.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51KES 195
$1.52€1.30
-0.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.02KES 390
$34.84€29.65
-91.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48KES 191
$2.02€1.72
-26.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KKES 2.5M
$32.9K€28.0K
-41.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0KKES 2.3M
$33.6K€28.6K
-46.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.01KES 4,260
$221€188
-85.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90KES 1,923
$13.55€11.53
9.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.55KES 4,976
$31.59€26.88
22.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.86KES 4,886
$57.4€48.85
-34.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16KES 2,602
$25.69€21.86
-21.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30KES 813
$10.24€8.72
-38.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161KES 20.7K
$579€493
-72.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,594KES 980.2K
$10.5K€8,951
-27.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.05KES 1,814
$92.2€78.5
-84.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.20KES 2,737
$40.41€34.39
-47.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.42KES 6,379
$101€86.0
-51.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02KES 6,069
$133€113
-64.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$307KES 39.6K
$851€724
-63.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$148KES 19.1K
$655€557
-77.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845KES 109.1K
$1,515€1,290
-44.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352KES 45.4K
$1,076€915
-67.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,402KES 180.9K
$3,967€3,376
-64.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$922KES 119.0K
$2,426€2,064
-62.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$342KES 44.1K
$1,938€1,649
-82.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.57
4.41
207.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kenya: April 12, 2026
Last update for Italy: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $83 in Kenya, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $449 in Nairobi vs $1,362 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $325 in Kenya, $1,938 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 795% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 161% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 529% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 496% higher in Italy, giving Italy 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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Kenya?
At $1,800 per month in Italy and $382 in Kenya, there's a 372% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Kenya is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Italy beats Kenya across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Italy or Kenya?
In Kenya, $1,200 covers most cities easily. In Italy, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or Kenya?
It depends on what you're after. Kenya wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.