Kiambu is among the most expensive counties to live in, a new report has revealed.
Residents in this devolved unit are paying dearly to survive due to the high cost of living.
A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that expenditure per month per adult in Kiambu on food is Sh4,567 while on non-food items is Sh5,027, which totals to Sh9,594.
These statistics are above the national average which adds up to Sh7,811.
According to the report, Nairobi is the country’s most expensive county to live in followed by Mombasa.
The high cost of living in these three areas was attributed to over-reliance on purchased food which meant households in these counties maintained a high food budget.
“Nationally, food consumed from purchases was the main source – accounting to 68.3 per cent of total food consumed,” said the report on the well-being of Kenyans.
According to KNBS, it is only residents in four counties in the country who need less than Sh7,000 to survive.
They are; Taita Taveta (Sh6,916), Baringo (Sh6,711), Nyandarua (Sh6,693) and Trans Nzoia which is the least expensive devolved unit to live in at Sh6,485.
A recent study by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) showed that areas where expenditure on food and non-food items is high also record high spending on bribes, making life harder for residents.
The counties listed were Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Machakos, Nakuru, Tharaka Nithi and Uasin Gishu.