Gas feels expensive until you run the numbers. Here's the honest monthly cost of each fuel for a Kenyan family of four cooking daily — including the costs you don't see on a receipt.
Monthly Cost for a Family of Four
| Fuel | Typical monthly cost | |
|---|---|---|
| LPG (13kg refill ~5 weeks) | ~KSh 2,300–3,000 | Clean, instant |
| Charcoal (jiko, daily use) | ~KSh 2,500–4,000 | Smoke, soot, labour |
| Electricity (electric cooker) | ~KSh 4,000–6,500 | Blackout risk, prepaid tokens |
| Kerosene stove | ~KSh 2,000–3,000 | Soot, smell, fire risk |
LPG and charcoal run close on cash cost — but the comparison isn't just money.
The Costs That Don't Show on a Receipt
- Health: charcoal and kerosene fill kitchens with smoke linked to respiratory illness — especially for whoever cooks daily. LPG burns clean.
- Time: lighting a jiko takes 15–20 minutes daily; gas lights in seconds. That's ~10 hours a month back.
- Cookware: charcoal soots pots black — replacement and scrubbing costs add up.
- Control: gas simmers on a dial; charcoal is a constant wrestle.
- Reliability: prepaid electricity means your cooker dies when tokens run out at 8pm — gas doesn't.
The Verdict by Household
- Daily cooking family: LPG wins on cost-per-convenience — charcoal is comparable on cash but loses badly on health and time.
- Tight-budget single: a 6kg LPG set beats kerosene on health and matches it on cost.
- Heavy baking/large pots: LPG — no contest.
- Occasional cooking: anything works — but a 6kg LPG still beats the rest on convenience.
The Charcoal Trap
Charcoal feels "cheap" because you buy small tins. The monthly totals tell the truth: KSh 3,000+ of tins plus your lungs and your time. The gas upgrade pays for itself in the first month for most daily-cooking households.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gas really cheaper than charcoal?
For most households the cash cost is similar or lower — and gas wins decisively on health, time and convenience.
What about the upfront cost?
A 6kg complete set (~KSh 3,000) pays back within 1–2 months versus daily charcoal buying.
Is electricity ever better?
With solar or cheap tariffs, an electric cooker can compete — but tokens, tariffs and blackouts make it unreliable as the primary fuel for most homes.
Make the switch: a 6kg complete set is the cheapest way off charcoal — delivered today. Shop complete sets →