Cost of Living in Kenya - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Kenya
Address: KE

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $480 (excluding rent), and $672 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,175 (excluding rent), and $1,597 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.77 KES 487

$1.51 KES 195

$7.55 KES 974

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.05 KES 4,521

$21.02 KES 2,712

$100 KES 12.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.86 KES 885

$5.34 KES 689

$8.01 KES 1,033

Cappuccino

$2.25 KES 290

$0.93 KES 119

$5.93 KES 765

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

$0.66 KES 85.3

$0.37 KES 48.22

$1.49 KES 192

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.3

$0.32 KES 41.31

$1.20 KES 155

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 KES 296

$1.53 KES 198

$3.83 KES 494

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 KES 342

$2.27 KES 293

$4.54 KES 585

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.47 KES 60.5

$1.18 KES 153

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.7

$0.47 KES 60.8

$0.79 KES 102

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 KES 174

$0.91 KES 117

$2.45 KES 316

Eggs

$1.60 KES 207

$1.18 KES 152

$2.47 KES 319

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 KES 1,353

$4.69 KES 605

$31.28 KES 4,035

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 KES 843

$3.13 KES 404

$8.65 KES 1,115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 KES 638

$3.76 KES 485

$6.01 KES 776

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 KES 366

$1.18 KES 152

$3.94 KES 508

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 KES 127

$0.61 KES 78.5

$1.95 KES 252

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 KES 240

$0.70 KES 90.9

$3.90 KES 503

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 KES 107

$0.37 KES 48.31

$1.49 KES 192

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 KES 104

$0.38 KES 48.51

$1.64 KES 211

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 KES 133

$0.48 KES 62.0

$1.86 KES 240

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 88.4

$0.32 KES 41.51

$1.44 KES 186

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 KES 89.5

$0.40 KES 52.1

$1.08 KES 139

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 392

$1.90 KES 245

$3.81 KES 491

Wine (Bottle)

$9.49 KES 1,224

$5.93 KES 766

$19.78 KES 2,551

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 KES 277

$1.59 KES 205

$2.78 KES 359

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 KES 331

$1.81 KES 234

$3.77 KES 487

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.56 KES 72.7

$1.62 KES 209

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.07 KES 3,750

$22.95 KES 2,960

$45.90 KES 5,921

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.43 KES 184

$3.17 KES 409

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$0.91 KES 118

$2.28 KES 294

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 KES 395

$2.30 KES 296

$5.37 KES 692

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 KES 199

$1.19 KES 153

$1.73 KES 223

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

$19.1K KES 2.5M

$14.0K KES 1.8M

$23.3K KES 3.0M

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

$17.7K KES 2.3M

$13.9K KES 1.8M

$27.1K KES 3.5M

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

$33.45 KES 4,315

$15.69 KES 2,024

$66.7 KES 8,603

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

$14.97 KES 1,931

$7.73 KES 998

$30.92 KES 3,989

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.63 KES 4,983

$23.24 KES 2,998

$77.5 KES 9,995

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.38 KES 4,822

$15.57 KES 2,008

$77.9 KES 10.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.79 KES 2,553

$7.72 KES 996

$38.60 KES 4,979

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 KES 788

$4.58 KES 591

$11.46 KES 1,478

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

$164 KES 21.1K

$77.6 KES 10.0K

$349 KES 45.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,633 KES 984.7K

$3,939 KES 508.1K

$15.8K KES 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.23 KES 1,835

$9.24 KES 1,192

$38.51 KES 4,968

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.90 KES 2,696

$6.18 KES 798

$46.38 KES 5,983

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.49 KES 6,384

$19.45 KES 2,510

$117 KES 15.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.96 KES 5,928

$19.19 KES 2,476

$98.9 KES 12.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.6K

$117 KES 15.1K

$702 KES 90.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 KES 19.2K

$77.8 KES 10.0K

$350 KES 45.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 KES 111.0K

$349 KES 45.0K

$1,551 KES 200.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 KES 45.5K

$200 KES 25.8K

$768 KES 99.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 KES 187.5K

$974 KES 125.7K

$3,019 KES 389.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$949 KES 122.5K

$698 KES 90.1K

$2,765 KES 356.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$345 KES 44.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.57

10.9

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

Last update: January 11, 2026

By City in Kenya

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Bungoma	60000		$160	$262	$390	$480	21.61	10.62
2	Busia	51981						28.81	12.53
3	Eldoret	193830	27	$414	$536	$970	$1,343	257.39	10.31
4	Embu	41092	25	$419	$498	$832	$1,082	63.63	20.96
5	Garissa	119696		$378	$470	$803	$1,058	29.74	12.74
6	Homa Bay	-		$58.6	$57.5	$246	$289	125.21	8.96
7	Isiolo	45989	25	$485	$498	$1,084	$1,134	12.53	12.05
8	Kericho	150000	23	$487	$456	$1,011	$988	40.1	18.25
9	Kiambu	147870	24	$356	$489	$915	$1,000	35.63	14.3
10	Kilifi	122899		$295	$436	$718	$1,118	78.18	23.65
11	Kisii	200000		$56.1	$66.0	$116	$135	37.54	11.79
12	Kisumu	1155574	30	$484	$600	$983	$1,294	320.62	13.44
13	Kitale	107806		$137	$147	$360	$346	79.43	12.38
14	Machakos	114109	23	$356	$459	$889	$1,053	42.43	18.29
15	Malindi	117735		$260	$350	$818	$815	157.59	25.65
16	Meru	1833000	24	$485	$484	$1,195	$1,155	148.43	13.45
17	Migori	31644	25	$489	$508	$1,134	$1,187	25.48	8.43
18	Molo	-	25	$485	$498	$1,306	$1,213	77.41	10.88
19	Mombasa	1300000	31	$397	$614	$1,117	$1,532	138.67	40.77
20	Nairobi	3138295	39	$559	$754	$1,335	$1,801	38.9	21.88
21	Naivasha	14563	29	$524	$582	$1,120	$1,381	209.7	17
22	Nakuru	307990	29	$479	$574	$1,047	$1,381	101.86	12.95
23	Nanyuki	32000	31	$426	$603	$1,080	$1,438	207.26	26.28
24	Narok	40000	28	$575	$550	$1,306	$1,286	13.85	9.38
25	Nyahururu	-	28	$488	$567	$1,014	$1,360	38.69	11.31
26	Nyeri	98908	26	$467	$511	$1,220	$1,263	32.23	13.19
27	Ongata Rongai	-	27	$372	$545	$747	$1,140	161.81	18.27
28	Siaya	22586		$173	$166	$323	$369	33.26	3.72
29	Thika	83000	24	$471	$470	$1,048	$1,117	63.19	18.13
30	Wote	-	29	$356	$596	$806	$1,232	22.99	13.9

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Kenya - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Kenya varies widely by region and lifestyle, so choosing the right city and neighborhood matters. The country offers a wide spectrum of costs, with major cities like Nairobi and Mombasa tending to be more expensive for housing and dining than rural towns. You can find solid value by living in mid-range neighborhoods, cooking at home, and using public transport. The mix of formal and informal services means you can access affordable options, but imported goods and urban amenities can raise prices. Seasonal tourism can push prices in peak months. Your budget stretches further with longer leases and shared housing. Tip: Start by listing essential expenses and comparing a few neighborhoods to find the best fit.

Daily life in Kenya blends affordability with choice. Housing searches usually rely on online listings and local agents; in cities, you’ll encounter a range from secure apartment compounds in popular neighborhoods to simple, shared options on quieter streets. For food, markets offer fresh produce at accessible prices, while supermarkets provide convenience for staples. Transport is diverse: matatus, boda-boda, ride-hailing, and walking are common depending on the area. Co-working spaces exist in major hubs, with flexible options for short or longer stays. Kenya living cost shifts with location and your daily choices. Tip: Build a short list of must-haves before you search.

Quality of life in Kenya depends on neighborhood fit and daily routines. Build a simple budgeting framework: essentials first, then flexible spending, with regular reviews. Seasonality matters: rainy seasons can affect commute times and outdoor plans, while tourist high season can push prices in popular spots. For a good neighborhood fit, weigh safety, access to reliable internet, and proximity to work or co-working spaces; Nairobi pockets like Kilimani or Karen offer different vibes than coastal towns. Embrace local markets, prepared foods, and public transport to stretch your budget. Tip: Set a monthly review to adjust your plan as you settle in.