Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $444 per month in Kenya vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $737 per month in Kenya vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,029 per month in Kenya vs $5,071 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Kenya is roughly 83% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 67% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 509

$20.02 $20.02

-80.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.90 KES 4,509

$74.7 $74.7

-53.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 KES 922

$11.67 $11.67

-38.82%

Cappuccino

$2.30 KES 297

$5.30 $5.30

-56.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 KES 90.9

$2.48 $2.48

-71.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 KES 68.9

$2.11 $2.11

-74.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 KES 304

$5.82 $5.82

-59.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

$6.92 $6.92

-61.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$1.07 $1.07

-23.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 65.7

$3.62 $3.62

-85.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 KES 181

$4.68 $4.68

-70.09%

Eggs

$1.57 KES 202

$4.23 $4.23

-62.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 KES 1,327

$13.07 $13.07

-21.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 KES 837

$12.42 $12.42

-47.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 KES 666

$16.12 $16.12

-68.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 KES 368

$5.27 $5.27

-45.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 KES 126

$1.66 $1.66

-40.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 KES 241

$4.51 $4.51

-58.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$5.02 $5.02

-82.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 KES 105

$2.97 $2.97

-72.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 KES 123

$3.16 $3.16

-69.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.0

$2.18 $2.18

-68.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 KES 90.3

$2.28 $2.28

-69.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 KES 396

$10.07 $10.07

-69.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 KES 1,216

$15.27 $15.27

-38.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 KES 263

$1.94 $1.94

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 KES 347

$3.55 $3.55

-24.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$2.45 $2.45

-68.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.64 KES 3,830

$65.0 $65.0

-54.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 KES 198

$3.84 $3.84

-59.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KES 204

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 KES 395

$30.30 $30.30

-89.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 KES 200

$0.88 $0.88

76.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.3K KES 2.5M

$29.7K $29.7K

-35.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.6K KES 2.3M

$26.5K $26.5K

-33.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$32.80 KES 4,238

$204 $204

-83.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.12 KES 1,954

$57.4 $57.4

-73.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.73 KES 5,003

$70.5 $70.5

-45.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 KES 4,776

$45.43 $45.43

-18.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.61 KES 2,534

$22.15 $22.15

-11.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 KES 802

$14.14 $14.14

-56.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$165 KES 21.3K

$1,373 $1,373

-87.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,582 KES 979.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

-66.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.42 KES 1,863

$51.5 $51.5

-72.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.06 KES 2,721

$43.10 $43.10

-51.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.21 KES 6,358

$90.1 $90.1

-45.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.77 KES 5,914

$115 $115

-60.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 KES 39.2K

$1,703 $1,703

-82.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 KES 19.1K

$1,451 $1,451

-89.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 KES 111.0K

$2,834 $2,834

-69.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 KES 46.1K

$2,365 $2,365

-84.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,424 KES 184.0K

$3,338 $3,338

-57.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$937 KES 121.1K

$2,570 $2,570

-63.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 KES 45.0K

$4,326 $4,326

-91.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.57

6.51

108.45%

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

Last update for Kenya: July 19, 2026

Last update for United States: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $82.0 in Kenya vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $446 in Nairobi and $1,604 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $328 in Kenya vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1894% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 161% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1272% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 724% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Kenya, contributing to the overall 724% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Kenya, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.