Africa · budget destination

Cost of living in Kenya for expats

A realistic monthly budget for one person living comfortably in Kenya — rent, food, transport, and everyday costs in Nairobi.

Monthly budget

$1,100–1,700

One person, all-in, in Nairobi

Rent (1-bed)

$400–900

1-bedroom city-centre apartment, per month

Budget tier

Budget

under ~$1,500/mo

What to know

What makes Kenya stand out, and what to watch for

Why expats choose Kenya

Sub-Saharan Africa’s premier tech hub, English-speaking, with excellent international schools and a large, well-established expat community; Direct to Nature game reserves are accessible on weekends.

Watch out for

Traffic in Nairobi is severe; security requires care in certain areas; power and water outages occur; healthcare quality varies widely and travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential.

Costs vary a lot by city, neighbourhood, and lifestyle — these are directional monthly bands for the main expat city, current as of 2026. Treat them as a starting point, not a quote. Information only, not financial advice.

Compare

Cost of living elsewhere in Africa

All 13 in Africa →

Country	Monthly budget	Tier
Cape Verde	$1,000–1,500	Budget
Egypt	$700–1,100	Budget
Mauritius	$2,000–2,900	Moderate
Morocco	$900–1,500	Budget
Namibia	$1,500–2,200	Moderate
Nigeria	$1,500–2,500	Moderate

The rest of the move

Visa routes to Kenya1 current route, each with its official source Healthcare in Kenya for expatsPublic + private mix system — how a resident can use it and what private cover costs Your first 90 days in KenyaRegistration, tax ID, bank account and license, in the order they unlock

Managing your money

Banking abroadUS banks often close accounts with a foreign address. Compare the ones that keep working.Sending money abroadGet your money to Kenya without the markup banks hide in the exchange rate.Health cover abroadYour US health plan doesn't follow you overseas. Compare the plans that do.

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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.

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