Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisumu and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisumu and Nairobi

🙂 Solo nomad: Kisumu is 27.4% cheaper than Nairobi without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kisumu is 16.1% cheaper than Nairobi without rent, and 28.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.7 KES 608
$5.39 KES 696
-12.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.49 KES 3,036
$38.5 KES 4,976
-38.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.56 KES 848
$6.88 KES 889
-4.65%
Cappuccino
$2.19 KES 283
$2.48 KES 320
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.6 KES 78.2
$0.74 KES 96.3
-18.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 69.1
$0.5 KES 65
6.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 KES 247
$2.38 KES 308
-19.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 KES 366
$2.91 KES 377
-2.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.53 KES 68.1
$0.88 KES 114
-39.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 KES 72.3
$0.53 KES 68.1
5.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 KES 214
$1.65 KES 214
-
Eggs
$1.62 KES 210
$1.67 KES 216
-2.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 KES 1,491
$11.8 KES 1,525
-2.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 KES 848
$6.79 KES 878
-3.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.14 KES 664
$5.54 KES 715
-7.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 KES 391
$3.16 KES 409
-4.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 KES 134
$1.08 KES 140
-4.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 KES 271
$2.14 KES 276
-2.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 KES 136
$1.01 KES 131
4.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 KES 134
$1.02 KES 132
1.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 KES 116
$1.17 KES 151
-23.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 KES 88.8
$0.65 KES 84.3
6.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 KES 96.7
$0.75 KES 96.5
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14 KES 406
$3.13 KES 404
0.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.93 KES 1,024
$11.69 KES 1,510
-32.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 KES 281
$2.18 KES 281
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 KES 294
$2.77 KES 359
-18.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 KES 97.3
$0.79 KES 103
-5.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.38 KES 3,022
$30.91 KES 3,995
-24.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 KES 195
$1.52 KES 197
-0.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 KES 193
$1.56 KES 201
-4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 KES 385
$2.87 KES 372
3.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 KES 205
$1.59 KES 206
-0.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22K KES 2.8M
$21.4K KES 2.8M
2.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K KES 2.5M
$20.2K KES 2.6M
-2.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.78 KES 4,366
$34.87 KES 4,507
-3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.48 KES 2,130
$16.84 KES 2,176
-2.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.06 KES 5,178
$39.05 KES 5,046
2.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.8 KES 2,947
$42.91 KES 5,546
-46.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.93 KES 2,576
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 KES 819
$6.29 KES 813
0.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 KES 15.1K
$207 KES 26.7K
-43.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,994 KES 1M
$7,963 KES 1M
0.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.4 KES 1,474
$18.49 KES 2,390
-38.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.13 KES 2,473
$23.58 KES 3,047
-18.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.5 KES 2,003
$64.1 KES 8,289
-75.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.37 KES 1,987
$56 KES 7,233
-72.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 KES 17.2K
$439 KES 56.8K
-69.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$107 KES 13.9K
$188 KES 24.4K
-42.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 KES 45.2K
$1,125 KES 145.4K
-68.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$215 KES 27.8K
$430 KES 55.5K
-49.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$764 KES 98.7K
$1,867 KES 241.3K
-59.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,085 KES 140.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kisumu
Nairobi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$789 KES 101.9K
$413 KES 53.3K
91.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
14.84
-19.14%

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

Last update for Kisumu: October 28, 2025

Last update for Nairobi: October 28, 2025

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