Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Nairobi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $501 in Isiolo versus $782 in Nairobi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Isiolo versus $1,305 in Nairobi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,134 in Isiolo versus $1,828 in Nairobi.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 36% less than in Nairobi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Isiolo 63% lower, Nairobi 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.51 KES 713

$5.35 KES 692

2.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.58 KES 3,955

$38.02 KES 4,917

-19.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 KES 505

$6.91 KES 894

-43.56%

Cappuccino

$2.35 KES 304

$2.39 KES 309

-1.67%

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

$0.28 KES 36.52

$0.71 KES 91.8

-60.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.31

$0.51 KES 65.5

-56.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 KES 291

$2.31 KES 298

-2.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 370

$2.97 KES 385

-3.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.94 KES 121

-8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 KES 57.8

$0.53 KES 68.1

-15.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KES 214

$1.64 KES 212

0.61%

Eggs

$1.42 KES 184

$1.69 KES 218

-15.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,518

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 KES 865

$6.84 KES 884

-2.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 KES 715

$5.44 KES 704

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 KES 399

$3.03 KES 392

1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$1.08 KES 140

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 KES 281

$2.08 KES 269

4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$1.04 KES 135

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$1.06 KES 138

0.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$1.15 KES 149

-1.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.8

$0.70 KES 90.8

-1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$0.79 KES 102

-5.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 393

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 KES 1,504

$11.67 KES 1,509

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 KES 284

$2.22 KES 287

-0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 353

$2.82 KES 364

-3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 KES 3,956

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.59 KES 205

-5.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.50 KES 194

0.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 KES 370

$2.88 KES 372

-0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 KES 182

$1.56 KES 202

-10.26%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

$22.0K KES 2.8M

-1.24%

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

$20.4K KES 2.6M

-0.93%

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

$35.01 KES 4,527

$34.70 KES 4,487

0.89%

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

$16.69 KES 2,158

$16.60 KES 2,147

0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.05 KES 5,050

$39.54 KES 5,113

-1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.29 KES 5,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,667

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 KES 789

$6.07 KES 785

0.49%

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

$203 KES 26.2K

$202 KES 26.1K

0.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,151 KES 1.1M

$8,140 KES 1.1M

0.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.05 KES 2,334

$18.28 KES 2,364

-1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.24 KES 3,135

$23.56 KES 3,047

2.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 KES 8,295

$66.4 KES 8,590

-3.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 KES 7,305

$56.7 KES 7,326

-0.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 KES 58.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 KES 23.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 KES 146.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 KES 54.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,558 KES 201.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 KES 114.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 KES 100.4K

$416 KES 53.9K

86.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

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

Last update for Isiolo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Isiolo pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Isiolo vs $38.00 in Nairobi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $207 per month, with Isiolo cheaper across the board.

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

Isiolo vs Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Nairobi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Isiolo pays 86% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $501 per month in Isiolo versus $782 in Nairobi – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Isiolo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Isiolo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $501 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isiolo hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.