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 $2,644 per month in United States vs $443 in Kenya, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,029 in Kenya, rent included.

United States costs about 497% more than Kenya on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 96% above the global median, while Kenya is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,313–$5,207) than Kenya ($0–$763), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$3.97 KES 513

412.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$35.26 KES 4,551

110.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$6.79 KES 876

68.19%

Cappuccino

$5.21 $5.21

$2.28 KES 294

128.51%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$0.72 KES 92.8

263.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.51 KES 65.6

321.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.26 KES 292

158.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.63 KES 340

173.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.75 KES 97.0

44.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$0.50 KES 64.5

618.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.35 KES 174

248.89%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$1.53 KES 198

186.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$10.56 KES 1,363

19.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$6.62 KES 854

87.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$5.24 KES 676

212.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.84 KES 367

81.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.03 KES 133

66.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.88 KES 242

137.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$0.90 KES 116

456.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$0.87 KES 113

234.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$0.95 KES 123

222.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.68 KES 87.3

217.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.70 KES 90.7

215.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.93 $9.93

$3.07 KES 397

223.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

$9.91 KES 1,280

50.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.04 KES 264

-6.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.66 KES 343

39.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.79 KES 103

222.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.0 $65.0

$29.86 KES 3,854

117.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.51 KES 195

144.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.51 KES 195

17.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.24 $30.24

$3.02 KES 390

901.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.48 KES 191

-35.81%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$19.2K KES 2.5M

55.06%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$18.0K KES 2.3M

46.36%

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

$210 $210

$33.01 KES 4,260

534.72%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$14.90 KES 1,923

291.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.1 $72.1

$38.55 KES 4,976

87.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.90 $45.90

$37.86 KES 4,886

21.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.20 $22.20

$20.16 KES 2,602

10.12%

Cinema Ticket

$14.25 $14.25

$6.30 KES 813

126.19%

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

$1,367 $1,367

$161 KES 20.7K

750.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K $22.8K

$7,594 KES 980.2K

200.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$14.05 KES 1,814

277.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.96 $42.96

$21.20 KES 2,737

102.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$49.42 KES 6,379

80.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$47.02 KES 6,069

141.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$307 KES 39.6K

474.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,460 $1,460

$148 KES 19.1K

886.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 $2,865

$845 KES 109.1K

239.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,360 $2,360

$352 KES 45.4K

571.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,427 $3,427

$1,402 KES 180.9K

144.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,624 $2,624

$922 KES 119.0K

184.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$342 KES 44.1K

1159.43%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Kenya: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,636 in United States vs $83 in Kenya. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,562 in Washington, DC and $449 in Nairobi.

Average salary: $4,492 in United States vs $325 in Kenya. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1871% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 161% more in United States.

Public transport is 257% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1282% 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

United States vs Kenya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kenya is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 755% 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 755% 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.