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

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

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

The cost of living in United States is about 467% higher than in Kenya on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$3.21 KES 415

517.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$30.98 KES 4,008

154.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$6.51 KES 842

87.25%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$2.40 KES 311

132.92%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$0.57 KES 74.0

387.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.54 KES 70.4

303.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.27 KES 294

158.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.73 KES 354

193.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.78 KES 101

37.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$0.50 KES 64.5

636.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.50 KES 194

210.67%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$1.59 KES 206

164.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$8.96 KES 1,159

42.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$6.06 KES 784

104.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$5.25 KES 679

221.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$2.77 KES 358

88.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.95 KES 123

74.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.72 KES 223

151.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$0.83 KES 107

497.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.86 KES 111

227.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.88 KES 114

253.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.74 KES 96.0

195.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.57 KES 74.2

296.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$3.25 KES 420

218.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$10.54 KES 1,364

40.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.06 KES 267

1.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.65 KES 343

37.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.79 KES 103

201.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$38.94 KES 5,038

65.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.54 KES 199

129.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.53 KES 198

21.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$2.95 KES 382

928.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.51 KES 196

-33.77%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$19.0K KES 2.5M

86.65%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$18.5K KES 2.4M

39.50%

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

$222 $222

$53.7 KES 6,949

313.68%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$13.70 KES 1,772

346.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$36.41 KES 4,710

105.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$39.63 KES 5,127

12.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$15.10 KES 1,953

48.01%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$7.91 KES 1,023

90.01%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$171 KES 22.1K

737.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$9,260 KES 1.2M

179.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$17.80 KES 2,303

201.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$19.97 KES 2,584

117.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$38.39 KES 4,966

138.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$43.09 KES 5,575

163.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$299 KES 38.7K

445.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$152 KES 19.7K

772.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$798 KES 103.3K

226.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$386 KES 50.0K

471.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$1,259 KES 162.8K

164.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$935 KES 120.9K

183.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$349 KES 45.1K

1134.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

13.64

-54.47%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kenya: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $334 in Kenya. 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

United States vs Kenya: 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.