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: $64.9 in Kisii versus $782 in Nairobi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $101 in Kisii versus $1,305 in Nairobi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $137 in Kisii versus $1,828 in Nairobi.

Living in Kisii costs roughly 92% less than in Nairobi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kisii 95% lower, Nairobi 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 KES 693

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.02 KES 4,926

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 KES 895

Cappuccino

$1.43 KES 185

$2.39 KES 309

-40.17%

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

$1.34 KES 174

$0.71 KES 91.9

88.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 KES 234

$2.31 KES 299

-21.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 KES 307

$2.97 KES 385

-20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 62.6

$0.53 KES 68.3

-9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 212

Eggs

$1.88 KES 243

$1.69 KES 218

11.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 KES 886

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 KES 705

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 392

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 269

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 138

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 150

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 394

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 KES 1,511

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 288

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 KES 49.01

$0.75 KES 96.7

-49.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.43 KES 1,999

$30.59 KES 3,963

-49.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 KES 97.0

$1.59 KES 206

-52.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 KES 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 KES 210

$1.56 KES 202

3.85%

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

$22.0K KES 2.9M

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

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$20.4K KES 2.6M

-43.73%

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

$34.70 KES 4,495

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

$16.60 KES 2,151

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,122

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.29 KES 5,608

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,672

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 KES 787

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

$202 KES 26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,140 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,368

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.56 KES 3,053

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,605

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.7 KES 7,339

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 KES 58.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 KES 23.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 KES 146.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 KES 54.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,558 KES 201.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 KES 114.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$416 KES 53.9K

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 Kisii: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: June 1, 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 1106% 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 $97.3 in Kisii and $1,174 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.

All in, you'll spend $64.9 per month in Kisii versus $782 in Nairobi – a 1106% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1574% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 $64.9 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 1106% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.