Employer cost calculator: Kenya 2026
What an employee really costs in Kenya: gross salary plus mandatory employer contributions. A KSh 100,000 monthly salary costs about KSh 107,550 (1.08× gross).
Employer cost by salary
Employer NSSF (matching 6%), Affordable Housing Levy 1.5% and the NITA levy.
| Gross per month | KSh 50,000 | KSh 100,000 | KSh 200,000 | KSh 500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSSF | KSh 3,000 | KSh 6,000 | KSh 6,480 | KSh 6,480 |
| Housing Levy | KSh 750 | KSh 1,500 | KSh 3,000 | KSh 7,500 |
| NITA levy | KSh 50 | KSh 50 | KSh 50 | KSh 50 |
| Total employer cost | KSh 53,800 | KSh 107,550 | KSh 209,530 | KSh 514,030 |
| Cost multiplier | 1.076× | 1.075× | 1.048× | 1.028× |
| Employee take-home | KSh 39,029 | KSh 70,442 | KSh 137,131 | KSh 338,206 |
Employer matches NSSF and the Affordable Housing Levy; NITA levy KES 50 per employee per month.
Employee side: Kenya take-home pay calculator.
GET /v1/employer-cost?country=ke&gross=… — free API key, 1,000 calls/month.Questions
How much does it cost to employ someone in Kenya?
On top of gross pay, employers in Kenya pay employer NSSF (matching 6%), Affordable Housing Levy 1.5% and the NITA levy. For a KSh 100,000 monthly salary the total is about KSh 107,550, or 1.08 times gross pay.
Does this include benefits or an EOR fee?
No. It covers statutory employer contributions and mandatory accruals only. Private health insurance, allowances, equipment and Employer of Record fees come on top.
Sources
- https://www.kra.go.ke/individual/filing-paying/types-of-taxes/paye
- https://www.nssf.or.ke/
- https://sha.go.ke/
Updated 2026-11-13. Estimates for planning only, not tax advice.