Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisii and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisii and Nairobi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $304 in Kisii versus $830 in Nairobi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $448 in Kisii versus $1,388 in Nairobi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $593 in Kisii versus $1,946 in Nairobi.

Living in Kisii costs roughly 63% less than in Nairobi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kisii 78% lower, Nairobi 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.68 KES 347

$5.46 KES 706

-50.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.38 KES 4,575

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 KES 783

Cappuccino

$1.41 KES 182

$2.70 KES 349

-47.78%

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

$0.88 KES 114

$0.64 KES 82.5

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 KES 28.41

$0.56 KES 72.6

-60.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 KES 237

$2.35 KES 303

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 KES 298

$2.78 KES 360

-17.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 KES 119

$0.82 KES 106

12.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 KES 66.5

$0.53 KES 68.6

-3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 KES 303

$1.95 KES 253

20.00%

Eggs

$1.91 KES 247

$1.72 KES 222

11.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 KES 1,305

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 KES 831

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 KES 607

$6.32 KES 818

-25.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 KES 254

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 KES 128

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 KES 123

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 95.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 KES 456

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 KES 1,528

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 KES 255

$2.31 KES 299

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 KES 52.1

$0.80 KES 104

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.16 KES 1,960

$46.14 KES 5,966

-67.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 KES 103

$1.58 KES 205

-49.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 KES 205

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 KES 385

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 KES 200

$1.55 KES 200

-0.65%

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

$18.6K KES 2.4M

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

$11.8K KES 1.5M

$19.0K KES 2.5M

-38.17%

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

$56.3 KES 7,275

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

$16.05 KES 2,075

$15.68 KES 2,028

2.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.52 KES 6,403

$34.69 KES 4,485

42.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.68 KES 6,423

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.72 KES 1,903

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 KES 1,021

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

$38.20 KES 4,939

$238 KES 30.8K

-83.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K KES 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.76 KES 1,520

$26.95 KES 3,484

-56.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.92 KES 3,222

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.32 KES 4,955

$64.5 KES 8,338

-40.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.43 KES 4,064

$59.4 KES 7,677

-47.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 KES 51.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.5 KES 10.0K

$214 KES 27.6K

-63.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,138 KES 147.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 KES 20.1K

$515 KES 66.6K

-69.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,454 KES 187.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$893 KES 115.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 KES 59.7K

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 Kisii: August 2, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: August 4, 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

Kisii vs Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 173% lower than in Nairobi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $456 in Kisii and $1,245 in Nairobi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 265% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $304 per month in Kisii versus $830 in Nairobi – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kisii 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 Kisii delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $304 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kisii hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.