Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and South Africa 
Sign up for free* to continue using Numbeo
Or please fill:
* Free use is limited to personal, academic and journalistic purposes only.
For commercial purposes, please obtain a Commercial License, Insights or API access
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 7.1% higher than in Kenya (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 13.8% higher than in Kenya | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 44.6% higher than in Kenya | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 18.9% higher than in Kenya | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 9.0% lower than in Kenya | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 210.1% higher than in Kenya | |
Restaurants | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
500.00 KSh (72.96 R) |
1,096.47 KSh (160.00 R) |
+119.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
4,000.00 KSh (583.69 R) |
4,797.05 KSh (700.00 R) |
+19.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
830.00 KSh (121.12 R) |
616.70 KSh (89.99 R) |
-25.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
300.00 KSh (43.78 R) |
274.12 KSh (40.00 R) |
-8.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
350.00 KSh (51.07 R) |
308.38 KSh (45.00 R) |
-11.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
287.23 KSh (41.91 R) |
243.67 KSh (35.56 R) |
-15.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
87.92 KSh (12.83 R) |
119.64 KSh (17.46 R) |
+36.1 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
64.87 KSh (9.47 R) |
93.09 KSh (13.58 R) |
+43.5 % |
Markets | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
398.72 KSh (58.18 R) |
504.44 KSh (73.61 R) |
+26.5 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
61.89 KSh (9.03 R) |
109.95 KSh (16.04 R) |
+77.7 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
84.23 KSh (12.29 R) |
87.28 KSh (12.74 R) |
+3.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
204.77 KSh (29.88 R) |
277.45 KSh (40.49 R) |
+35.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
605.36 KSh (88.34 R) |
422.28 KSh (61.62 R) |
-30.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
364.19 KSh (53.14 R) |
253.50 KSh (36.99 R) |
-30.4 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
293.60 KSh (42.84 R) |
372.53 KSh (54.36 R) |
+26.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
160.34 KSh (23.40 R) |
84.63 KSh (12.35 R) |
-47.2 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
60.04 KSh (8.76 R) |
79.06 KSh (11.54 R) |
+31.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
105.73 KSh (15.43 R) |
82.12 KSh (11.98 R) |
-22.3 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
50.41 KSh (7.36 R) |
84.18 KSh (12.28 R) |
+67.0 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
49.55 KSh (7.23 R) |
67.84 KSh (9.90 R) |
+36.9 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
60.57 KSh (8.84 R) |
72.11 KSh (10.52 R) |
+19.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
93.63 KSh (13.66 R) |
127.45 KSh (18.60 R) |
+36.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
88.44 KSh (12.91 R) |
116.04 KSh (16.93 R) |
+31.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,400.00 KSh (204.29 R) |
582.50 KSh (85.00 R) |
-58.4 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
266.85 KSh (38.94 R) |
164.29 KSh (23.97 R) |
-38.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
337.40 KSh (49.23 R) |
210.37 KSh (30.70 R) |
-37.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
400.00 KSh (58.37 R) |
356.35 KSh (52.00 R) |
-10.9 % |
Transportation | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
100.00 KSh (14.59 R) |
205.59 KSh (30.00 R) |
+105.6 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
3,600.00 KSh (525.32 R) |
5,482.34 KSh (800.00 R) |
+52.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
200.00 KSh (29.18 R) |
137.06 KSh (20.00 R) |
-31.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
321.87 KSh (46.97 R) |
220.57 KSh (32.19 R) |
-31.5 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
400.00 KSh (58.37 R) |
582.50 KSh (85.00 R) |
+45.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
739.64 KSh (107.93 R) |
594.68 KSh (86.78 R) |
-19.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,500,000.00 KSh (364,807.42 R) |
2,535,584.37 KSh (370,000.00 R) |
+1.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,293,750.00 KSh (334,710.81 R) |
2,883,690.16 KSh (420,796.63 R) |
+25.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
4,113.35 KSh (600.23 R) |
13,746.91 KSh (2,005.99 R) |
+234.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
1,875.61 KSh (273.69 R) |
3,868.25 KSh (564.47 R) |
+106.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
4,909.26 KSh (716.37 R) |
5,037.51 KSh (735.09 R) |
+2.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
4,869.45 KSh (710.56 R) |
3,848.71 KSh (561.62 R) |
-21.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
2,558.82 KSh (373.39 R) |
1,240.10 KSh (180.96 R) |
-51.5 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
800.00 KSh (116.74 R) |
822.35 KSh (120.00 R) |
+2.8 % |
Childcare | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
20,852.56 KSh (3,042.87 R) |
23,493.92 KSh (3,428.30 R) |
+12.7 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
976,503.20 KSh (142,494.25 R) |
557,100.90 KSh (81,293.82 R) |
-42.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
1,919.86 KSh (280.15 R) |
5,976.11 KSh (872.05 R) |
+211.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
2,784.62 KSh (406.34 R) |
3,782.41 KSh (551.94 R) |
+35.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
6,062.59 KSh (884.67 R) |
11,208.32 KSh (1,635.55 R) |
+84.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
5,986.08 KSh (873.51 R) |
9,676.43 KSh (1,412.01 R) |
+61.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
37,256.32 KSh (5,436.55 R) |
55,223.52 KSh (8,058.38 R) |
+48.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
17,909.09 KSh (2,613.35 R) |
44,924.61 KSh (6,555.53 R) |
+150.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
105,995.79 KSh (15,467.22 R) |
110,848.57 KSh (16,175.35 R) |
+4.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
45,214.29 KSh (6,597.80 R) |
87,510.78 KSh (12,769.83 R) |
+93.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
18,256.04 KSh (2,663.98 R) |
11,597.73 KSh (1,692.38 R) |
-36.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
16,562.62 KSh (2,416.87 R) |
8,766.23 KSh (1,279.19 R) |
-47.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
45,615.38 KSh (6,656.33 R) |
160,966.66 KSh (23,488.73 R) |
+252.9 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 13.78 | 11.56 | -16.1 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 157 | 663 |
Moving to Kenya? Explore:
Other comparisons Kenya vs South Africa: