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 $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 $1,028 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 97% above the global median, while Kenya is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$3.86 KES 499

419.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$34.60 KES 4,474

119.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$6.94 KES 897

64.55%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$2.29 KES 296

135.37%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.71 KES 91.4

259.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.54 KES 69.4

277.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.27 KES 294

170.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.75 KES 356

161.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.76 KES 98.0

36.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.50 KES 64.6

630.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.39 KES 180

240.29%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$1.55 KES 201

182.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$10.41 KES 1,346

22.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$6.28 KES 812

97.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$5.12 KES 662

220.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.82 KES 365

92.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.03 KES 133

60.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.82 KES 235

152.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$0.82 KES 107

498.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.81 KES 104

260.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.96 KES 125

226.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.63 KES 81.4

258.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.70 KES 90.4

228.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$3.15 KES 407

213.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$9.05 KES 1,171

66.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.07 KES 267

-7.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.61 KES 337

40.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.79 KES 102

213.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$29.95 KES 3,874

116.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.58 KES 204

143.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.53 KES 198

15.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$3.05 KES 395

902.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.54 KES 199

-37.66%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$19.0K KES 2.5M

60.40%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$18.0K KES 2.3M

46.39%

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

$204 $204

$32.85 KES 4,248

521.52%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$15.09 KES 1,952

279.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$38.04 KES 4,920

87.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$37.28 KES 4,820

25.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$19.75 KES 2,554

12.00%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$6.36 KES 822

117.61%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$166 KES 21.5K

733.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$7,439 KES 962.0K

205.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$14.03 KES 1,814

277.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$21.33 KES 2,759

102.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$48.61 KES 6,287

86.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$47.00 KES 6,078

143.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$305 KES 39.4K

479.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$150 KES 19.4K

870.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$855 KES 110.6K

231.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$354 KES 45.8K

581.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$1,411 KES 182.5K

133.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$911 KES 117.8K

191.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$342 KES 44.3K

1178.93%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kenya: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $327 in Kenya. 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

United States vs Kenya: 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.