Kenya (KE)
Kenya is East Africa's economic, tech, and diplomatic powerhouse — home to the United Nations' Africa headquarters, the Silicon Savannah startup ecosystem, and some of the world's most iconic wildlife.
Capital: Nairobi
Region: Africa
Language: Swahili
Currency: KES (Ksh)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)
Emergency: 999
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Kenya — 2026 data in KES.
30
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Unga (1kg maize flour) KES 120–160
Rice (1kg) KES 130–200
Bread (500g loaf) KES 60–80
Eggs (1 tray, 30) KES 380–480
Milk (1L fresh) KES 55–80
Chicken (1kg) KES 350–500
Beef (1kg, bone-in) KES 500–700
Fish (Tilapia, 1kg) KES 400–600
Tomatoes (1kg) KES 60–150 (seasonal)
Sukuma wiki (kale, bunch) KES 20–40
Avocado (large) KES 20–50
Imported cheese (200g) KES 400–800
Imported wine (bottle) KES 800–2,500
Dining Out
Local "nyama choma" joint (per person) KES 500–1,500
Java House / Artcaffe breakfast KES 900–1,800
Mid-range restaurant (per person) KES 1,500–3,500
Fine dining (per person) KES 5,000–15,000+
Street food (mandazi, samosa) KES 10–30 per piece
Ugali + nyama stew (local restaurant) KES 200–400
Tusker Beer (500ml, restaurant) KES 250–450
Coffee (cappuccino) KES 250–450
Chai (local tea stall) KES 20–50
Transport
Matatu (short city route) KES 30–80
Matatu (cross-Nairobi route) KES 80–200
Bolt/Uber (5km in Nairobi) KES 200–400
Bolt/Uber (airport to CBD, ~15km) KES 1,200–2,000
Taxi (negotiate, CBD–Karen) KES 1,500–2,500
Boda-boda (short hop) KES 50–200
Petrol (1 litre) KES 185–210 (regulated, fluctuates)
SGR train Nairobi–Mombasa (economy) KES 700
Nairobi Expressway toll (full length) KES 550
Utilities
Electricity (apartment, prepaid) KES 2,000–6,000
Water (monthly, piped) KES 500–2,000
Safaricom Home Fibre (20Mbps) KES 2,999/month
Safaricom Home Fibre (100Mbps) KES 4,999/month
Zuku Fibre (25Mbps) KES 2,500/month
LPG gas cylinder (13kg, refill) KES 2,800–3,500
Rent
1-bed apartment (Nairobi suburbs — Ngong, Rongai) KES 20,000–40,000
1-bed apartment (Westlands, Kileleshwa) KES 45,000–80,000
2-bed apartment (Westlands/Lavington) KES 70,000–130,000
3-bed house (Karen, Runda) KES 150,000–350,000
4-bed gated community (Rosslyn, Gigiri) KES 300,000–600,000+
Studio apartment (Kilimani) KES 35,000–60,000
Serviced apartment (short-term, Karen/Westlands) KES 180,000–400,000/month
Health & Insurance
GP consultation (private) KES 2,000–5,000
Specialist consultation (private) KES 5,000–15,000
Blood test (basic panel) KES 1,500–4,000
Malaria test (RDT) KES 300–800
Dental checkup (private) KES 2,000–5,000
Pharmacy prescription average KES 500–3,000
AMREF Flying Doctors membership (annual) KES 9,100–15,600
Childcare
Daycare / Baby class (mid-range) KES 15,000–25,000/month
International school fees (annual, primary) KES 1,500,000–3,500,000
Kenyan private primary school (annual) KES 100,000–500,000
Live-in nanny (monthly) KES 15,000–30,000
House manager (monthly) KES 18,000–40,000
Driver (full-time, monthly) KES 25,000–50,000
Leisure
Cinema ticket (Imax, Westgate) KES 700–1,200
Gym membership (monthly, Westlands) KES 5,000–15,000
Nairobi National Park entry (resident) KES 430 per adult
Nairobi National Park entry (non-resident) KES 3,900
Maasai Mara game drive (full day) KES 10,400–19,500
Diani Beach budget hotel (per night) KES 4,000–8,000
Luxury beach resort, Diani (per night) KES 26,000–65,000
Cost of Living
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