Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and Italy Cost 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
$3.97 KES 513
$17.19 €14.63
-76.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.26 KES 4,551
$79.5 €67.7
-55.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 KES 876
$11.53 €9.81
-41.11%
Cappuccino
$2.28 KES 294
$1.95 €1.66
16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 92.8
$2.97 €2.52
-75.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 KES 65.6
$1.36 €1.16
-62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 KES 292
$5.64 €4.80
-59.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 KES 340
$5.18 €4.41
-49.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 KES 97.0
$1.62 €1.38
-53.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 KES 64.5
$2.40 €2.04
-79.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 KES 174
$2.93 €2.49
-53.92%
Eggs
$1.53 KES 198
$3.96 €3.37
-61.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 KES 1,363
$16.71 €14.22
-36.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 KES 854
$12.63 €10.75
-47.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.24 KES 676
$20.75 €17.66
-74.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 KES 367
$2.51 €2.13
13.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$2.24 €1.91
-54.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 KES 242
$2.68 €2.28
-29.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 KES 116
$3.35 €2.85
-73.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 KES 113
$2.03 €1.73
-57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 KES 123
$1.84 €1.56
-48.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 KES 87.3
$1.52 €1.29
-55.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 KES 90.7
$0.50 €0.43
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 KES 397
$6.91 €5.88
-55.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 KES 1,280
$7.23 €6.15
37.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 KES 264
$1.83 €1.56
11.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 KES 343
$2.52 €2.14
5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Kenya
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 103
$1.93 €1.64
-59.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.86 KES 3,854
$43.04 €36.63
-30.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 KES 195
$5.63 €4.80
-73.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 KES 195
$1.52 €1.30
-0.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 KES 390
$34.84 €29.65
-91.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 KES 191
$2.02 €1.72
-26.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K KES 2.5M
$32.9K €28.0K
-41.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K KES 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)
$33.01 KES 4,260
$221 €188
-85.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90 KES 1,923
$13.55 €11.53
9.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.55 KES 4,976
$31.59 €26.88
22.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.86 KES 4,886
$57.4 €48.85
-34.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 KES 2,602
$25.69 €21.86
-21.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 KES 813
$10.24 €8.72
-38.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 KES 20.7K
$579 €493
-72.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,594 KES 980.2K
$10.5K €8,951
-27.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.05 KES 1,814
$92.2 €78.5
-84.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.20 KES 2,737
$40.41 €34.39
-47.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.42 KES 6,379
$101 €86.0
-51.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 KES 6,069
$133 €113
-64.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kenya
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 KES 39.6K
$851 €724
-63.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 KES 19.1K
$655 €557
-77.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 KES 109.1K
$1,515 €1,290
-44.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 KES 45.4K
$1,076 €915
-67.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,402 KES 180.9K
$3,967 €3,376
-64.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$922 KES 119.0K
$2,426 €2,064
-62.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kenya
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$342 KES 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.

Kenya vs other spots: cost of living compared

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