Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Busia and Nairobi

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 KES 610

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.21 KES 4,436

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 KES 795

Cappuccino

$2.82 KES 366

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 KES 81.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 77.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 KES 346

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

Eggs

$1.69 KES 219

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 KES 1,402

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 KES 819

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 KES 799

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 KES 414

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 KES 258

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 KES 146

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 100

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 KES 448

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 KES 1,472

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 KES 289

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 KES 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.49 KES 6,028

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 KES 171

$1.56 KES 202

-15.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K KES 2.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.2K KES 2.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.0 KES 8,037

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.36 KES 1,991

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.09 KES 4,679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 KES 6,591

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.14 KES 1,963

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 KES 985

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$253 KES 32.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K KES 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.49 KES 3,695

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 KES 3,673

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 KES 8,929

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 KES 7,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 KES 56.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 KES 28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 KES 148.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 KES 65.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,334 KES 172.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$904 KES 117.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 KES 62.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Busia: September 29, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: September 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Busia vs Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Busia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nairobi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – Busia wins on affordability, Nairobi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.