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 $443 per month in Kenya vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $736 per month in Kenya vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,028 per month in Kenya vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Kenya is roughly 83% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Kenya sits 67% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.86 KES 499

$20.04 $20.04

-80.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.60 KES 4,474

$76.0 $76.0

-54.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 KES 897

$11.42 $11.42

-39.23%

Cappuccino

$2.29 KES 296

$5.39 $5.39

-57.51%

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

$0.71 KES 91.4

$2.55 $2.55

-72.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.4

$2.04 $2.04

-73.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

$6.14 $6.14

-63.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 356

$7.18 $7.18

-61.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 KES 98.0

$1.04 $1.04

-26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 KES 64.6

$3.65 $3.65

-86.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 KES 180

$4.73 $4.73

-70.61%

Eggs

$1.55 KES 201

$4.38 $4.38

-64.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 KES 1,346

$12.76 $12.76

-18.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.28 KES 812

$12.42 $12.42

-49.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 KES 662

$16.41 $16.41

-68.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 KES 365

$5.42 $5.42

-47.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 KES 133

$1.65 $1.65

-37.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 KES 235

$4.59 $4.59

-60.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 KES 107

$4.91 $4.91

-83.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$2.92 $2.92

-72.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KES 125

$3.13 $3.13

-69.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 KES 81.4

$2.26 $2.26

-72.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 KES 90.4

$2.30 $2.30

-69.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 KES 407

$9.89 $9.89

-68.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.05 KES 1,171

$15.10 $15.10

-40.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 KES 267

$1.91 $1.91

8.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 KES 337

$3.66 $3.66

-28.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

$2.48 $2.48

-68.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 KES 3,874

$64.8 $64.8

-53.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 204

$3.84 $3.84

-58.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.76 $1.76

-13.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 395

$30.58 $30.58

-90.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 KES 199

$0.96 $0.96

60.42%

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

$19.0K KES 2.5M

$30.5K $30.5K

-37.66%

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

$18.0K KES 2.3M

$26.4K $26.4K

-31.69%

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

$32.85 KES 4,248

$204 $204

-83.91%

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

$15.09 KES 1,952

$57.3 $57.3

-73.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.04 KES 4,920

$71.2 $71.2

-46.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.28 KES 4,820

$46.67 $46.67

-20.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.75 KES 2,554

$22.12 $22.12

-10.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 KES 822

$13.84 $13.84

-54.05%

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

$166 KES 21.5K

$1,384 $1,384

-88.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,439 KES 962.0K

$22.7K $22.7K

-67.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.03 KES 1,814

$53.0 $53.0

-73.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.33 KES 2,759

$43.17 $43.17

-50.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.61 KES 6,287

$90.6 $90.6

-46.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.00 KES 6,078

$114 $114

-58.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 KES 39.4K

$1,766 $1,766

-82.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 KES 19.4K

$1,459 $1,459

-89.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 KES 110.6K

$2,832 $2,832

-69.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 KES 45.8K

$2,411 $2,411

-85.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,411 KES 182.5K

$3,287 $3,287

-57.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 KES 117.8K

$2,650 $2,650

-65.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$342 KES 44.3K

$4,379 $4,379

-92.18%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $83.0 in Kenya vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $450 in Nairobi and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $327 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 1872% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 161% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1276% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 721% 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 721% 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.