MigrantoCost of living in Kenya
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
KES 16,600
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
KES 7,510richest 20%
KES 49,300
Kenya runs on a fuller service economy than most of its neighbors — Nairobi pulls in business, tech, and a steady professional crowd, and that depth shows up in what a settled life costs. It stays affordable in the round, though the gap between living well and getting by is real, and the comfortable end of town is priced for the people who can reach it.
Where people spend money in Kenya
A typical month leans hardest on groceries and a place to live, with getting around following on. Food and rent are the costs you're locked into, and in a city like Nairobi housing carries a fair weight — it's the line you'll feel most when you pick a neighborhood.
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What it costs to live in Kenya
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Cost of living in Kenya
KES 7,510/mo
vs KES 104,000 in your country
Take-home
KES 23,800
vs KES 155,000 in your country
Potential savings
KES 16,300
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Kenya compare
By world standards Kenya is an inexpensive place to settle, and within Africa it sits roughly mid-pack. The takeaway for anyone deciding is that you're paying for a regional hub with real amenities, which is why it doesn't come as cheap as the quieter economies around it.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2024 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Kenya?
A typical person in Kenya spends about KES 16,600 a month — around KES 199,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Kenya in US dollars?
The cost of living in Kenya is about $128 a month, or roughly $1,536 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Kenya?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about KES 7,510 a month per person, a typical one around KES 16,600, and a comfortable life around KES 22,500. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Kenya?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about KES 6,470 a month (39% of spending). Then come housing (KES 2,330, 14%) and transport (KES 2,200, 13%).
Is the average salary in Kenya enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about KES 16,600 a month, while the average take-home pay in Kenya is about KES 18,600. For more on incomes, see salaries in Kenya.
Is Kenya an expensive country to live in?
No. Kenya is more expensive than 22% of countries worldwide and ranks 20th of 53 in Africa by cost of living.
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Living in Kenya
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