Cost of Living in Kenya - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Kenya
Address: KE

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $482 (excluding rent), and $681 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,172 (excluding rent), and $1,586 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 508

$1.58 KES 204

$7.87 KES 1,016

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.28 KES 4,555

$21.17 KES 2,733

$101 KES 13.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 KES 900

$5.43 KES 701

$8.13 KES 1,050

Cappuccino

$2.29 KES 296

$0.94 KES 122

$6.05 KES 781

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

$0.66 KES 85.1

$0.37 KES 48.11

$1.48 KES 191

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 KES 68.8

$0.32 KES 41.03

$1.19 KES 154

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 KES 296

$1.53 KES 198

$3.82 KES 494

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 KES 355

$2.35 KES 304

$4.71 KES 608

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.48 KES 61.9

$1.21 KES 156

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

$1.55 KES 200

$1.14 KES 147

$2.40 KES 309

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 KES 1,323

$4.58 KES 591

$30.56 KES 3,945

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 KES 812

$3.01 KES 389

$8.32 KES 1,074

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 KES 639

$3.76 KES 486

$6.02 KES 777

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 KES 364

$1.17 KES 151

$3.91 KES 505

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 KES 132

$0.64 KES 82.1

$2.04 KES 264

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 KES 242

$0.71 KES 91.8

$3.93 KES 507

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 KES 116

$0.41 KES 52.7

$1.62 KES 209

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.38 KES 49.39

$1.67 KES 215

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KES 124

$0.45 KES 57.7

$1.73 KES 223

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.2

$0.32 KES 41.44

$1.44 KES 186

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 KES 84.5

$0.38 KES 49.16

$1.02 KES 131

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 KES 397

$1.92 KES 248

$3.85 KES 497

Wine (Bottle)

$9.54 KES 1,232

$5.97 KES 770

$19.87 KES 2,566

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 KES 274

$1.57 KES 203

$2.75 KES 355

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 KES 345

$1.89 KES 244

$3.93 KES 507

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

$0.56 KES 72.4

$1.61 KES 208

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.53 KES 3,812

$23.31 KES 3,009

$46.62 KES 6,019

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.40 KES 181

$3.12 KES 403

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$0.95 KES 123

$2.37 KES 306

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KES 394

$2.29 KES 296

$5.35 KES 691

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 197

$1.17 KES 152

$1.71 KES 221

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

$19.3K KES 2.5M

$14.2K KES 1.8M

$23.7K KES 3.1M

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

$18.0K KES 2.3M

$14.2K KES 1.8M

$27.6K KES 3.6M

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

$33.13 KES 4,277

$15.54 KES 2,006

$66.1 KES 8,529

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

$15.18 KES 1,959

$7.84 KES 1,012

$31.36 KES 4,048

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.11 KES 4,920

$22.93 KES 2,961

$76.5 KES 9,869

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.69 KES 4,866

$15.69 KES 2,026

$78.5 KES 10.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.71 KES 2,545

$7.69 KES 993

$38.45 KES 4,963

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 KES 795

$4.62 KES 596

$11.55 KES 1,492

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

$163 KES 21.1K

$77.3 KES 9,979

$348 KES 44.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,409 KES 956.5K

$3,823 KES 493.5K

$15.3K KES 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.08 KES 1,818

$9.15 KES 1,181

$38.12 KES 4,921

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.63 KES 2,664

$6.10 KES 788

$45.78 KES 5,910

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.14 KES 6,343

$19.31 KES 2,494

$116 KES 15.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.63 KES 6,020

$19.47 KES 2,514

$100 KES 13.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 KES 39.4K

$116 KES 15.0K

$696 KES 89.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 KES 18.8K

$76.1 KES 9,824

$342 KES 44.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 KES 109.7K

$345 KES 44.5K

$1,532 KES 197.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 KES 45.8K

$201 KES 25.9K

$772 KES 99.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,461 KES 188.6K

$979 KES 126.4K

$3,030 KES 391.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$931 KES 120.2K

$685 KES 88.4K

$2,712 KES 350.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 KES 44.6K

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: March 2, 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		$176	$254	$380	$496	21.61	10.62
2	Busia	51981						28.81	12.53
3	Eldoret	193830	27	$438	$541	$1,067	$1,340	257.39	10.31
4	Embu	41092	25	$402	$484	$841	$1,065	63.63	20.96
5	Garissa	119696		$335	$451	$828	$1,082	29.74	12.74
6	Homa Bay	-		$53.2	$57.1	$308	$292	125.21	8.96
7	Isiolo	45989	25	$439	$501	$1,197	$1,108	12.53	12.05
8	Kericho	150000	23	$411	$455	$1,098	$1,009	40.1	18.25
9	Kiambu	147870	24	$390	$496	$777	$1,027	35.63	14.3
10	Kilifi	122899		$341	$426	$715	$1,126	78.18	23.65
11	Kisii	200000		$58.7	$66.4	$148	$134	37.54	11.79
12	Kisumu	1155574	30	$510	$596	$1,171	$1,279	320.62	13.44
13	Kitale	107806		$143	$148	$358	$348	79.43	12.38
14	Machakos	114109	23	$323	$448	$921	$1,068	42.43	18.29
15	Malindi	117735		$290	$343	$801	$813	157.59	25.65
16	Meru	1833000	24	$497	$479	$1,135	$1,140	148.43	13.45
17	Migori	31644	25	$468	$507	$1,192	$1,189	25.48	8.43
18	Molo	-	25	$530	$500	$1,100	$1,217	77.41	10.88
19	Mombasa	1300000	31	$454	$604	$1,031	$1,495	138.67	40.77
20	Nairobi	3138295	39	$543	$783	$1,350	$1,832	38.9	21.88
21	Naivasha	14563	29	$448	$589	$1,223	$1,383	209.7	17
22	Nakuru	307990	29	$428	$591	$956	$1,378	101.86	12.95
23	Nanyuki	32000	31	$448	$621	$1,260	$1,407	207.26	26.28
24	Narok	40000	28	$459	$556	$1,199	$1,285	13.85	9.38
25	Nyahururu	-	28	$521	$571	$1,174	$1,349	38.69	11.31
26	Nyeri	98908	26	$413	$526	$1,151	$1,242	32.23	13.19
27	Ongata Rongai	-	27	$332	$528	$766	$1,151	161.81	18.27
28	Siaya	22586		$161	$164	$410	$371	33.26	3.72
29	Thika	83000	24	$471	$473	$1,100	$1,126	63.19	18.13
30	Wote	-	29	$385	$594	$956	$1,193	22.99	13.9

Kenya Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.