Cost of Living in Kenya - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Kenya
Address: KE

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $495 (excluding rent), and $668 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,193 (excluding rent), and $1,591 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 509

$1.58 KES 204

$7.88 KES 1,018

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.22 KES 4,423

$20.53 KES 2,653

$98.0 KES 12.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 KES 881

$5.31 KES 686

$7.96 KES 1,028

Cappuccino

$2.25 KES 290

$0.92 KES 120

$5.93 KES 766

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

$0.72 KES 93.1

$0.41 KES 52.6

$1.62 KES 209

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.2

$0.30 KES 38.87

$1.13 KES 145

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 KES 291

$1.50 KES 194

$3.76 KES 486

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 KES 344

$2.28 KES 294

$4.56 KES 589

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 KES 100

$0.45 KES 58.3

$1.14 KES 147

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 70.2

$0.48 KES 62.1

$0.80 KES 104

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 KES 176

$0.92 KES 119

$2.48 KES 321

Eggs

$1.60 KES 206

$1.17 KES 152

$2.47 KES 319

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 KES 1,352

$4.68 KES 604

$31.19 KES 4,031

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 KES 844

$3.13 KES 404

$8.64 KES 1,116

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 KES 654

$3.85 KES 497

$6.16 KES 795

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 KES 369

$1.19 KES 153

$3.96 KES 512

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

$0.63 KES 81.9

$2.03 KES 263

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 KES 242

$0.71 KES 91.6

$3.92 KES 506

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 KES 115

$0.41 KES 52.4

$1.61 KES 208

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 KES 106

$0.38 KES 49.01

$1.65 KES 214

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 KES 126

$0.45 KES 58.7

$1.76 KES 227

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 KES 81.3

$0.30 KES 38.17

$1.32 KES 171

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 KES 89.6

$0.40 KES 52.1

$1.08 KES 139

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 KES 411

$1.99 KES 257

$3.98 KES 515

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 KES 1,292

$5.76 KES 745

$19.22 KES 2,484

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 KES 265

$1.52 KES 197

$2.66 KES 344

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 KES 345

$1.89 KES 244

$3.93 KES 508

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 94.6

$0.51 KES 66.3

$1.47 KES 190

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.28 KES 3,784

$23.12 KES 2,987

$46.23 KES 5,975

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.42 KES 184

$3.16 KES 409

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 194

$0.91 KES 117

$2.26 KES 292

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 KES 388

$2.26 KES 291

$5.27 KES 681

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 KES 192

$1.14 KES 148

$1.67 KES 215

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)

$17.7K KES 2.3M

$14.0K KES 1.8M

$27.2K KES 3.5M

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

$32.79 KES 4,238

$15.38 KES 1,988

$65.4 KES 8,450

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

$14.92 KES 1,928

$7.71 KES 996

$30.82 KES 3,983

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.93 KES 4,902

$22.82 KES 2,950

$76.1 KES 9,832

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.60 KES 4,729

$15.24 KES 1,969

$76.2 KES 9,850

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.18 KES 2,608

$7.88 KES 1,018

$39.37 KES 5,088

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 KES 796

$4.62 KES 597

$11.55 KES 1,493

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

$161 KES 20.9K

$76.5 KES 9,882

$344 KES 44.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,382 KES 954.0K

$3,809 KES 492.3K

$15.2K KES 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.28 KES 1,845

$9.27 KES 1,198

$38.64 KES 4,994

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.94 KES 2,707

$6.20 KES 801

$46.48 KES 6,006

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.22 KES 6,361

$19.35 KES 2,500

$116 KES 15.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.55 KES 5,886

$19.02 KES 2,458

$98.1 KES 12.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 KES 39.7K

$117 KES 15.1K

$702 KES 90.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 KES 19.0K

$77.2 KES 9,981

$348 KES 44.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 KES 111.5K

$350 KES 45.2K

$1,556 KES 201.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 KES 45.8K

$201 KES 25.9K

$772 KES 99.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,432 KES 185.0K

$960 KES 124.0K

$2,978 KES 384.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$923 KES 119.2K

$679 KES 87.7K

$2,687 KES 347.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$344 KES 44.4K

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 9, 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		$156	$254	$382	$487	21.61	10.62
2	Busia	51981						28.81	12.53
3	Eldoret	193830	27	$351	$528	$1,085	$1,307	257.39	10.31
4	Embu	41092	25	$443	$483	$943	$1,084	63.63	20.96
5	Garissa	119696		$357	$451	$799	$1,077	29.74	12.74
6	Homa Bay	-		$63.0	$57.9	$321	$286	125.21	8.96
7	Isiolo	45989	25	$427	$489	$992	$1,121	12.53	12.05
8	Kericho	150000	23	$436	$462	$1,022	$997	40.1	18.25
9	Kiambu	147870	24	$327	$480	$914	$1,027	35.63	14.3
10	Kilifi	122899		$303	$420	$822	$1,117	78.18	23.65
11	Kisii	200000		$68.4	$66.2	$149	$132	37.54	11.79
12	Kisumu	1155574	30	$448	$585	$1,042	$1,272	320.62	13.44
13	Kitale	107806		$169	$150	$305	$347	79.43	12.38
14	Machakos	114109	23	$306	$442	$1,026	$1,075	42.43	18.29
15	Malindi	117735		$276	$356	$828	$804	157.59	25.65
16	Meru	1833000	24	$515	$490	$1,147	$1,131	148.43	13.45
17	Migori	31644	25	$508	$514	$1,110	$1,212	25.48	8.43
18	Molo	-	25	$526	$498	$1,259	$1,192	77.41	10.88
19	Mombasa	1300000	31	$456	$612	$1,033	$1,533	138.67	40.77
20	Nairobi	3138295	39	$552	$766	$1,361	$1,813	38.9	21.88
21	Naivasha	14563	29	$411	$583	$1,178	$1,384	209.7	17
22	Nakuru	307990	29	$434	$586	$1,070	$1,360	101.86	12.95
23	Nanyuki	32000	31	$495	$619	$1,122	$1,396	207.26	26.28
24	Narok	40000	28	$579	$541	$1,173	$1,306	13.85	9.38
25	Nyahururu	-	28	$541	$553	$1,017	$1,368	38.69	11.31
26	Nyeri	98908	26	$437	$509	$1,127	$1,260	32.23	13.19
27	Ongata Rongai	-	27	$357	$538	$761	$1,133	161.81	18.27
28	Siaya	22586		$181	$168	$356	$371	33.26	3.72
29	Thika	83000	24	$399	$480	$1,047	$1,139	63.19	18.13
30	Wote	-	29	$322	$580	$786	$1,221	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.