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

Name: Kenya
Address: KE

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

The cost of living in United States is about 495% higher than in Kenya on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$3.94 KES 509

408.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$34.90 KES 4,509

114.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.67 $11.67

$7.14 KES 922

63.45%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$2.30 KES 297

130.43%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$0.70 KES 90.9

254.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.53 KES 68.9

298.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.35 KES 304

147.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$2.63 KES 340

163.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.82 KES 106

30.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$0.51 KES 65.7

609.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$1.40 KES 181

234.29%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$1.57 KES 202

169.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$10.27 KES 1,327

27.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$6.48 KES 837

91.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$5.15 KES 666

213.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.85 KES 368

84.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.98 KES 126

69.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.87 KES 241

141.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$0.89 KES 115

464.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.82 KES 105

262.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$0.95 KES 123

232.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.68 KES 88.0

220.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.70 KES 90.3

225.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 $10.07

$3.06 KES 396

229.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$9.41 KES 1,216

62.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.04 KES 263

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.69 KES 347

31.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.76 KES 98.1

222.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.0 $65.0

$29.64 KES 3,830

119.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.54 KES 198

149.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 KES 204

8.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$3.06 KES 395

890.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.55 KES 200

-43.23%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$19.3K KES 2.5M

54.33%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$17.6K KES 2.3M

50.19%

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

$204 $204

$32.80 KES 4,238

523.05%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$15.12 KES 1,954

279.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 $70.5

$38.73 KES 5,003

82.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.43 $45.43

$36.97 KES 4,776

22.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.15 $22.15

$19.61 KES 2,534

12.95%

Cinema Ticket

$14.14 $14.14

$6.21 KES 802

127.70%

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

$1,373 $1,373

$165 KES 21.3K

731.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$7,582 KES 979.6K

202.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$14.42 KES 1,863

257.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.10 $43.10

$21.06 KES 2,721

104.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 $90.1

$49.21 KES 6,358

83.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$45.77 KES 5,914

151.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,703 $1,703

$303 KES 39.2K

461.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,451 $1,451

$148 KES 19.1K

879.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,834 $2,834

$859 KES 111.0K

230.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,365 $2,365

$357 KES 46.1K

563.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$1,424 KES 184.0K

134.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,570 $2,570

$937 KES 121.1K

174.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$348 KES 45.0K

1141.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.57

-52.03%

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

Last update for United States: July 19, 2026

Last update for Kenya: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $328 in Kenya. 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

United States vs Kenya: 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.