Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisumu and Kherson

For one person, living is cheaper in Kherson: $557 a month against $643 in Kisumu, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kisumu
🇰🇪 Kenya
$643
/mo nomad
Kherson
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$557
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kisumu and in Kherson

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kisumu and in Kherson actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $643 per month in Kisumu vs $557 in Kherson, rent included.

  • Kisumu $643
  • Kherson $557

A couple spends around $972 per month in Kisumu vs $867 in Kherson, rent included.

  • Kisumu $972
  • Kherson $867

A family of three spends $1,302 per month in Kisumu vs $1,177 in Kherson, rent included.

  • Kisumu $1,302
  • Kherson $1,177

Kisumu costs about 15% more than Kherson, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Kisumu and Kherson are more affordable than the global median – Kisumu 52% lower, Kherson 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67 KES 606
$6.70 ₴301
-30.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.63 KES 3,193
$17.47 ₴784
40.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.54 KES 848
$6.35 ₴285
2.99%
Cappuccino
$2.63 KES 342
$1.12 ₴50.5
134.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 KES 86.8
$0.90 ₴40.35
-25.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 KES 72.9
$0.59 ₴26.53
-5.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 KES 254
$1.03 ₴46.21
90.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 KES 353
$1.56 ₴70.1
74.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.56 KES 72.1
$0.91 ₴40.63
-38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 KES 67.0
$0.66 ₴29.70
-21.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 KES 245
$1.27 ₴57.1
48.82%
Eggs
$1.64 KES 212
$1.48 ₴66.5
10.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 KES 1,388
$8.05 ₴361
33.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 KES 814
$4.95 ₴222
26.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.06 KES 656
$6.85 ₴308
-26.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 KES 437
$1.22 ₴54.8
176.23%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 KES 115
$1.54 ₴69.2
-42.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 KES 257
$1.46 ₴65.5
35.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 KES 144
$1.90 ₴85.2
-41.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 KES 139
$0.61 ₴27.46
75.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 KES 117
$0.45 ₴20.34
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 KES 89.4
$0.87 ₴38.90
-20.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 95.6
$0.53 ₴23.60
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 KES 395
$2.64 ₴119
15.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 KES 1,024
$4.46 ₴200
77.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 KES 298
$0.76 ₴34.25
202.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 KES 306
$1.35 ₴60.8
74.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 KES 96.3
$0.21 ₴9.42
252.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.05 KES 2,989
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 KES 204
$1.08 ₴48.64
45.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 KES 195
$0.75 ₴33.84
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.82 KES 365
$13.27 ₴596
-78.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 KES 210
$1.67 ₴74.9
-2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K KES 2.8M
$29.8K ₴1.3M
-27.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K KES 2.7M
$23.1K ₴1.0M
-11.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.9 KES 7,119
$67.2 ₴3,015
-18.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.40 KES 1,997
$3.85 ₴173
300.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.59 KES 4,614
$5.99 ₴269
494.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.87 KES 2,965
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.70 KES 998
$4.32 ₴194
78.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 KES 14.9K
$275 ₴12.3K
-58.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K KES 1.6M
$11.7K ₴523.9K
4.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.41 KES 1,479
$70.5 ₴3,164
-83.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.63 KES 2,545
$38.45 ₴1,726
-48.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.49 KES 2,008
$80.7 ₴3,621
-80.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.27 KES 1,979
$83.7 ₴3,755
-81.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$151 KES 19.6K
$144 ₴6,451
5.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 KES 18.0K
$87.6 ₴3,932
58.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$560 KES 72.6K
$202 ₴9,060
177.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 KES 27.4K
$143 ₴6,403
48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$765 KES 99.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kisumu
Kherson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$779 KES 101.0K
$341 ₴15.3K
128.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
17.6
-16.42%

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

Last update for Kisumu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kherson: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kisumu
$188
Kherson
$155 17.6% $33
Accommodation & Living
Kisumu
$139
Kherson
$88 37% $51
Eating Out
Kisumu
$109
Kherson
$100 7.7% $8.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisumu
$106
Kherson
$77 27.3% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Kisumu
$38
Kherson
$8.6 * 77.4% $30
Getting Around
Kisumu
$35
Kherson
$5.7 * 83.8% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Kisumu
$28
Kherson
$123 342% $95

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Kisumu versus $144 in Kherson. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 128% higher in Kisumu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kisumu versus $17.00 in Kherson. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $155 – making Kherson the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Kisumu
🇺🇦 Kherson
🕒 Local time
18:55 6:55 PM
18:55 6:55 PM
Same time as Kisumu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,155,574
294,941
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 44.89 UAH (100 UAH = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 50.46 UAH (100 UAH = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kisumu Kherson 5,200 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kisumu
  • Kherson

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kisumu vs Kherson: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kisumu and in Kherson compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $643 in Kisumu, $557 in Kherson – roughly 15% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Kisumu compared to Kherson?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $964 per month in Kisumu and $836 in Kherson. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kisumu and Kherson?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kherson, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kisumu or Kherson?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $643 in Kisumu and $557 in Kherson. That's a gap of about 15%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kisumu and Kherson?
Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Kisumu and $275 in Kherson. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Kisumu compared to Kherson?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $643 in Kisumu and $557 in Kherson, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Kisumu and Kherson?
It depends on your priorities. Kisumu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $557 in Kherson to $643 in Kisumu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kisumu or Kherson safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kisumu and Kherson?
If budget matters most, go with Kherson. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kisumu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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