Features

Construction Cost in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know

Estimates for building 2 to 5-bedroom homes, maisonettes, offices, and more.

Updated on

October 19, 2025

Building costs estimation. (Photo: Courtesy)

Construction costs in Kenya range from Sh48,750 to Sh122,860 per square metre (Sh4,529 to Sh11,414 per square foot) for residential, commercial, retail, and industrial buildings.

Building costs vary depending on factors such as the topography of the land, geographical location, size of the building, and specification of materials, among other basics.

Below are the average construction costs across various regions:

Nairobi and Central Region

Residential Houses

Standard bungalow: Sh48,750 per square metre / Sh4,529 per square foot.
Mid-class maisonette: Sh53,800 per square metre / Sh4,998 per square foot.
Luxury bungalow: Sh63,640 per square metre / Sh5,912 per square foot.
Luxury maisonette: Sh84,000 per square metre / Sh7,804 per square foot.
Low-rise apartment: Sh55,350 per square metre / Sh5,142 per square foot.
High-rise apartment: Sh60,435 per square metre / Sh5,615 per square foot.
Luxury apartment: Sh77,910 per square metre / Sh7,238 per square foot.

Commercial Buildings

Standard low-rise office: Sh61,410 per square metre / Sh5,705 per square foot.
Standard high-rise office: Sh82,860 per square metre / Sh7,698 per square foot.
Luxury high-rise office: Sh122,860 per square metre / Sh11,414 per square foot.
Business park: Sh80,755 per square metre / Sh7,502 per square foot.

Retail Facilities

Small-scale centre: Sh52,280 per square metre / Sh4,857 per square foot.
Standard urban complex: Sh67,400 per square metre / Sh6,262 per square foot.
All-inclusive shopping mall: Sh78,170 per square metre / Sh7,262 per square foot.

Industrial Facilities

Double storey factory: Sh52,200 per square metre / Sh4,850 per square foot.
High-tech factory: Sh97,720 per square metre / Sh9,078 per square foot.
Warehouse: Sh48,050 per square metre / Sh4,464 per square foot.
Cold storage: Sh50,435 per square metre / Sh4,686 per square foot.
Administration office: Sh50,340 per square metre / Sh4,677 per square foot.

Coastal Region

Residential Houses

Bungalow: Sh50,840 per square metre / Sh4,018 per square foot.
Middle-class maisonette: Sh57,550 per square metre / Sh4,645 per square foot.
Luxurious bungalow: Sh65,460 per square metre / Sh5,426 per square foot.
Luxurious maisonette: Sh75,175 per square metre / Sh6,108 per square foot.
Low-rise apartment block: Sh51,800 per square metre / Sh3,948 per square foot.
High-rise apartment block: Sh59,950 per square metre / Sh4,692 per square foot.
Luxurious apartment block: Sh78,200 per square metre / Sh6,039 per square foot.

Commercial Buildings

Standard low-rise office: Sh67,000 per square metre / Sh5,453 per square foot.
Standard high-rise office: Sh86,300 per square metre / Sh6,968 per square foot.
Luxurious high-rise office Sh112,890 per square metre / Sh9,053 per square foot.
Business park: Sh84,800 per square metre / Sh6,903 per square foot.

Retail Facilities

Small-scale shopping centre: Sh54,135 per square metre / Sh4,297 per square foot.
Standard urban complex: Sh71,230 per square metre / Sh5,574 per square foot.
All-inclusive shopping mall: Sh85,250 per square metre / Sh6,629 per square foot.

Industrial Facilities

Double-storey factory: Sh50,000 per square metre / Sh4,041 per square foot.
High-tech factory: Sh97,430 per square metre / Sh7,641 per square foot.
Warehouse: Sh44,010 per square metre / Sh3,345 per square foot.
Cold storage: Sh53,160 per square metre / Sh4,162 per square foot.
Administration office: Sh50,200 per square metre / Sh4,004 per square foot.

Western and Nyanza Region

Residential Houses

Standard bungalow: Sh49,770 per square metre / Sh3,902 per square foot.
Middle-class maisonette: Sh59,945 per square metre / Sh4,808 per square foot.
Luxurious bungalow: Sh77,000 per square metre / Sh6,076 per square foot.
Luxurious maisonette: Sh87,250 per square metre / Sh6,875 per square foot.
Standard low-rise apartment: Sh58,335 per square metre / Sh4,627 per square foot.
Standard high-rise apartment: Sh62,940 per square metre / Sh5,077 per square foot.
Luxurious apartment block: Sh73,710 per square metre / Sh5,853 per square foot.

Commercial Buildings

Standard low-rise office: Sh68,500 per square metre / Sh5,388 per square foot.
Standard high-rise office: Sh89,200 per square metre / Sh7,446 per square foot.
Luxurious high-rise office: Sh108,785 per square metre / Sh8,826 per square foot.
Business park: Sh77,600 per square metre / Sh6,290 per square foot.

Retail Facilities

Small scale centre: Sh56,620 per square metre / Sh4,506 per square foot.
Standard urban complex: Sh72,400 per square metre / Sh5,574 per square foot.
All-inclusive shopping mall: Sh87,740 per square metre / Sh6,689 per square foot.

Industrial Facilities

Double storey factory: Sh56,000 per square metre / Sh4,292 per square foot.
High-tech factory: Sh97,100 per square metre / Sh7,711 per square foot.
Warehouse: Sh53,000 per square metre / Sh4,357 per square foot.
Cold storage: Sh54,210 per square metre / Sh4,185 per square foot.
Administration office: Sh51,500 per square metre / Sh4,116 per square foot.

Costs handbook

The Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya has developed a construction costs handbook for major urban centres based on recently completed projects in the respective areas. The costs, which are on a “per square metre” basis, can give you a more accurate estimate.

However, you will require the services of a quantity surveyor for budget estimates in the pre-contract stage, as well as cost control and planning during construction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Cost of building bedsitters

Q: What does it cost to build bedsitters on a 50×100 plot?

A: A bedsitter (30 m²) at Sh48,750 per square metre costs about Sh1.46 million per unit. Multiply by the number of units you plan to build.

Cost of building a bedsitter in Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a single bedsitter?

A: Approximately Sh1.46 million for a 30 m² bedsitter at Sh48,750 per square metre.

Cost of building a 2-bedroom house in rural Kenya

Q: How much does a 2-bedroom house cost to build in rural Kenya?

A: With rates around Sh49,770 per square metre and typical size of 80–90 m², expect about Sh3.98 million to Sh4.48 million.

Cost of building a 2-bedroom house

Q: What is the cost of building a 2-bedroom house in Kenya?

A: For 80–90 m² at Sh49,770 to Sh59,945 per square metre, costs range from Sh3.98 million to Sh5.4 million depending on location and finish.

Cost of building a 3-bedroom house in rural Kenya

Q: What is the cost per square metre to build a 3-bedroom house in rural Kenya?

A: Rates typically range between Sh49,770 and Sh59,945 per square metre in rural areas like Western and Nyanza.

Cost of building a 3-bedroom house in rural Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a 3-bedroom house in rural Kenya?

A: For a 3-bedroom house around 100 m², expect approximately Sh4.98 million to Sh5.99 million depending on finishes.

Cost of building a 3-bedroom house in Kenya

Q: What is the cost of building a 3-bedroom house in Kenya?

A: Depending on size (100–140 m²) and quality, expect between Sh4.98 million and Sh12.2 million.

Cost of building a 4-bedroom house in rural Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a 4-bedroom house in rural Kenya?

A: Assuming 150 m² at mid-range rates, expect around Sh7.5 million to Sh11.3 million.

Cost of building a 4-bedroom house in Kenya

Q: What is the cost to build a 4-bedroom house in Kenya?

A: For 150 m² and mid to high-quality finishes, costs generally range between Sh7.5 million and Sh11.3 million.

Cost of building a 4-bedroom maisonette in Kenya

Q: What is the estimated cost of building a 4-bedroom maisonette?

A: Using luxury maisonette rates (Sh84,000 to Sh87,250 per square metre), a 150–200 m² maisonette costs between Sh12.6 million and Sh16.8 million.

Cost of building a 5-bedroom house

Q: What is the typical cost of building a 5-bedroom house in Kenya?

A: Assuming bungalow rates and a size of around 200 m², costs range from Sh9.9 million to Sh15.4 million depending on region and finishes.

Cost of building a 5-bedroom maisonette in Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a 5-bedroom maisonette in Kenya?

A: Based on luxury maisonette rates up to Sh87,250 per square metre, a 150 m² maisonette would cost roughly Sh13.1 million.

Cost of building a 5-storey building in Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a 5-storey building in Kenya?

A: The cost of constructing a 5-storey building in Kenya ranges from approximately Sh30 million for standard designs to over Sh60 million for high-end projects, depending on factors such as reinforced materials and design complexity.

Slab construction cost in Kenya

Q: How much does it cost to build a slab in Kenya?

A: The average cost of slab construction in Kenya ranges between Sh1,750 and Sh2,600 per square metre for a 150mm thick class 20 in-situ vibrated concrete slab with standard reinforcement.