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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 KES 690

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.72 KES 4,493

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 KES 776

Cappuccino

$2.83 KES 366

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

$0.63 KES 80.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 66.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 293

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 KES 341

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 KES 249

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 KES 1,415

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 KES 850

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.14 KES 794

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 KES 133

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 KES 262

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 KES 94.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 KES 460

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 KES 1,487

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 286

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.12 KES 6,098

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 KES 378

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 KES 171

$1.54 KES 200

-14.29%

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

$18.8K KES 2.4M

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

$19.2K KES 2.5M

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

$56.3 KES 7,289

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

$15.72 KES 2,034

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 KES 4,456

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.10 KES 6,354

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.47 KES 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 KES 993

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

$240 KES 31.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K KES 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.08 KES 3,504

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.20 KES 3,260

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 KES 8,168

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 KES 7,719

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 KES 55.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 KES 27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 KES 146.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 KES 66.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 KES 182.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$892 KES 115.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 KES 60.5K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: August 18, 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.