Cost of Living Comparison Between Kenya and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 17.9% higher than in Kenya (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 22.9% higher than in Kenya | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 44.4% higher than in Kenya | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 30.3% higher than in Kenya | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 1.5% higher than in Kenya | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 208.5% higher than in Kenya | |
Restaurants | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
500.00 KSh (67.15 R) |
1,265.89 KSh (170.00 R) |
+153.2 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
4,000.00 KSh (537.17 R) |
5,212.50 KSh (700.00 R) |
+30.3 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
900.00 KSh (120.86 R) |
670.18 KSh (90.00 R) |
-25.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
300.00 KSh (40.29 R) |
297.86 KSh (40.00 R) |
-0.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
350.00 KSh (47.00 R) |
335.09 KSh (45.00 R) |
-4.3 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
283.78 KSh (38.11 R) |
270.48 KSh (36.32 R) |
-4.7 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
83.64 KSh (11.23 R) |
133.48 KSh (17.93 R) |
+59.6 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
66.39 KSh (8.92 R) |
104.23 KSh (14.00 R) |
+57.0 % |
Markets | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
380.18 KSh (51.06 R) |
554.82 KSh (74.51 R) |
+45.9 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
60.70 KSh (8.15 R) |
119.25 KSh (16.01 R) |
+96.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
79.11 KSh (10.62 R) |
95.56 KSh (12.83 R) |
+20.8 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
201.62 KSh (27.08 R) |
302.66 KSh (40.65 R) |
+50.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
602.68 KSh (80.94 R) |
462.51 KSh (62.11 R) |
-23.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
369.03 KSh (49.56 R) |
279.56 KSh (37.54 R) |
-24.2 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
295.35 KSh (39.66 R) |
409.61 KSh (55.01 R) |
+38.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
160.65 KSh (21.57 R) |
94.82 KSh (12.73 R) |
-41.0 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
59.12 KSh (7.94 R) |
88.80 KSh (11.93 R) |
+50.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
100.09 KSh (13.44 R) |
90.69 KSh (12.18 R) |
-9.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
48.86 KSh (6.56 R) |
94.21 KSh (12.65 R) |
+92.8 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
48.94 KSh (6.57 R) |
76.10 KSh (10.22 R) |
+55.5 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
56.18 KSh (7.54 R) |
81.06 KSh (10.89 R) |
+44.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
86.25 KSh (11.58 R) |
142.93 KSh (19.19 R) |
+65.7 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
84.79 KSh (11.39 R) |
129.00 KSh (17.32 R) |
+52.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,450.00 KSh (194.72 R) |
632.95 KSh (85.00 R) |
-56.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
267.69 KSh (35.95 R) |
180.91 KSh (24.30 R) |
-32.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
329.71 KSh (44.28 R) |
231.41 KSh (31.08 R) |
-29.8 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
400.00 KSh (53.72 R) |
394.66 KSh (53.00 R) |
-1.3 % |
Transportation | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
100.00 KSh (13.43 R) |
223.39 KSh (30.00 R) |
+123.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
3,600.00 KSh (483.45 R) |
6,143.30 KSh (825.00 R) |
+70.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
200.00 KSh (26.86 R) |
148.93 KSh (20.00 R) |
-25.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
321.87 KSh (43.22 R) |
239.68 KSh (32.19 R) |
-25.5 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
500.00 KSh (67.15 R) |
632.95 KSh (85.00 R) |
+26.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
700.34 KSh (94.05 R) |
639.81 KSh (85.92 R) |
-8.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,200,000.00 KSh (295,443.91 R) |
2,829,640.27 KSh (380,000.00 R) |
+28.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,328,571.43 KSh (312,710.12 R) |
3,220,388.47 KSh (432,474.63 R) |
+38.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
4,740.64 KSh (636.63 R) |
15,466.78 KSh (2,077.07 R) |
+226.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
2,053.85 KSh (275.82 R) |
4,294.61 KSh (576.73 R) |
+109.1 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
5,147.81 KSh (691.31 R) |
5,442.75 KSh (730.92 R) |
+5.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
5,123.39 KSh (688.03 R) |
4,213.57 KSh (565.85 R) |
-17.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
2,533.33 KSh (340.21 R) |
1,288.85 KSh (173.08 R) |
-49.1 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
875.00 KSh (117.51 R) |
893.57 KSh (120.00 R) |
+2.1 % |
Childcare | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
21,291.67 KSh (2,859.32 R) |
25,287.87 KSh (3,395.98 R) |
+18.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
961,765.00 KSh (129,158.01 R) |
577,346.14 KSh (77,533.37 R) |
-40.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
1,870.00 KSh (251.13 R) |
6,509.97 KSh (874.24 R) |
+248.1 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
2,609.52 KSh (350.44 R) |
4,143.38 KSh (556.43 R) |
+58.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
6,465.62 KSh (868.29 R) |
12,309.45 KSh (1,653.07 R) |
+90.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
6,156.25 KSh (826.74 R) |
10,606.66 KSh (1,424.40 R) |
+72.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
40,831.72 KSh (5,483.40 R) |
58,910.38 KSh (7,911.23 R) |
+44.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
20,120.00 KSh (2,701.97 R) |
48,713.11 KSh (6,541.81 R) |
+142.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
113,045.70 KSh (15,181.21 R) |
118,075.80 KSh (15,856.72 R) |
+4.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
47,818.18 KSh (6,421.63 R) |
94,490.38 KSh (12,689.37 R) |
+97.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
18,258.23 KSh (2,451.95 R) |
12,419.51 KSh (1,667.85 R) |
-32.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
16,564.89 KSh (2,224.54 R) |
9,620.82 KSh (1,292.01 R) |
-41.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Kenya Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
47,514.29 KSh (6,380.82 R) |
180,083.75 KSh (24,183.93 R) |
+279.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 13.69 | 11.55 | -15.7 % |
| Last update: | 18 September 2025 | 22 September 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 190 | 762 |
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