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 $463 per month in Kenya vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $761 per month in Kenya vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,058 per month in Kenya vs $5,033 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Kenya is roughly 82% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 66% below the global median, while United States is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 KES 415

$19.83 $19.83

-83.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.98 KES 4,008

$78.8 $78.8

-60.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 KES 842

$12.19 $12.19

-46.60%

Cappuccino

$2.40 KES 311

$5.59 $5.59

-57.07%

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

$0.57 KES 74.0

$2.78 $2.78

-79.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 70.4

$2.18 $2.18

-75.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

$5.86 $5.86

-61.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 354

$8.02 $8.02

-65.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 KES 101

$1.07 $1.07

-27.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.5

$3.68 $3.68

-86.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 KES 194

$4.66 $4.66

-67.81%

Eggs

$1.59 KES 206

$4.20 $4.20

-62.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 KES 1,159

$12.78 $12.78

-29.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 KES 784

$12.40 $12.40

-51.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 KES 679

$16.90 $16.90

-68.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 KES 358

$5.23 $5.23

-47.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 KES 123

$1.66 $1.66

-42.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 KES 223

$4.33 $4.33

-60.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 KES 107

$4.96 $4.96

-83.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 KES 111

$2.82 $2.82

-69.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 KES 114

$3.11 $3.11

-71.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 KES 96.0

$2.19 $2.19

-66.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 KES 74.2

$2.26 $2.26

-74.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 KES 420

$10.35 $10.35

-68.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 KES 1,364

$14.81 $14.81

-28.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 KES 267

$2.09 $2.09

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 KES 343

$3.65 $3.65

-27.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 103

$2.38 $2.38

-66.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.94 KES 5,038

$64.5 $64.5

-39.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 KES 199

$3.54 $3.54

-56.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.86 $1.86

-17.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

$30.34 $30.34

-90.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 KES 196

$1.00 $1.00

51.00%

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

$19.0K KES 2.5M

$35.5K $35.5K

-46.42%

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

$18.5K KES 2.4M

$25.9K $25.9K

-28.31%

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

$53.7 KES 6,949

$222 $222

-75.83%

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

$13.70 KES 1,772

$61.1 $61.1

-77.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.41 KES 4,710

$74.7 $74.7

-51.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.63 KES 5,127

$44.49 $44.49

-10.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.10 KES 1,953

$22.35 $22.35

-32.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 KES 1,023

$15.03 $15.03

-47.37%

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

$171 KES 22.1K

$1,431 $1,431

-88.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,260 KES 1.2M

$25.9K $25.9K

-64.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.80 KES 2,303

$53.6 $53.6

-66.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.97 KES 2,584

$43.46 $43.46

-54.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.39 KES 4,966

$91.5 $91.5

-58.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.09 KES 5,575

$114 $114

-62.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 KES 38.7K

$1,633 $1,633

-81.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 KES 19.7K

$1,328 $1,328

-88.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 KES 103.3K

$2,606 $2,606

-69.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 KES 50.0K

$2,206 $2,206

-82.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,259 KES 162.8K

$3,323 $3,323

-62.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 KES 120.9K

$2,653 $2,653

-64.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 KES 45.1K

$4,306 $4,306

-91.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.64

6.21

119.65%

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

Last update for Kenya: September 5, 2026

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $97.0 in Kenya vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $452 in Nairobi and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $334 in Kenya vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1554% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 159% more in United States.

Public transport is 286% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1255% 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 652% 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 652% 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.