Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Machakos and Nairobi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $442 in Machakos versus $765 in Nairobi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $763 in Machakos versus $1,287 in Nairobi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,085 in Machakos versus $1,810 in Nairobi.

Living in Machakos costs roughly 42% less than in Nairobi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machakos 67% lower, Nairobi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 KES 307

$5.52 KES 714

-57.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.19 KES 4,936

$38.37 KES 4,960

-0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 KES 857

$6.64 KES 858

-0.15%

Cappuccino

$1.89 KES 244

$2.38 KES 307

-20.59%

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

$0.71 KES 91.6

$0.74 KES 95.8

-4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 64.4

$0.54 KES 69.9

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 KES 252

$2.31 KES 298

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 KES 342

$2.87 KES 371

-7.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.41 KES 52.8

$0.87 KES 113

-52.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 KES 61.6

$0.57 KES 74.0

-15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 KES 97.7

$1.59 KES 206

-52.20%

Eggs

$1.37 KES 177

$1.70 KES 220

-19.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 KES 1,475

$11.67 KES 1,509

-2.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KES 851

$6.67 KES 862

-1.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.68 KES 604

$5.73 KES 740

-18.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 KES 195

$3.06 KES 395

-50.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 KES 95.6

$1.09 KES 141

-32.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.37 KES 48.17

$2.14 KES 277

-82.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 KES 48.78

$1.01 KES 130

-62.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 KES 94.9

$1.02 KES 132

-28.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$1.13 KES 146

-30.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 KES 85.0

$0.69 KES 89.4

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 KES 48.00

$0.80 KES 104

-53.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 KES 403

$3.04 KES 393

2.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 KES 1,474

$11.38 KES 1,470

0.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 KES 253

$2.23 KES 288

-12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 361

$2.69 KES 347

3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.47 KES 3,938

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$1.59 KES 206

-52.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 KES 94.8

$1.57 KES 203

-53.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 379

$2.98 KES 385

-1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 KES 195

$1.57 KES 203

-3.82%

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

$21.4K KES 2.8M

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-1.60%

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

$19.7K KES 2.5M

$20.0K KES 2.6M

-1.49%

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

$34.06 KES 4,402

$34.46 KES 4,454

-1.16%

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

$7.77 KES 1,004

$17.09 KES 2,208

-54.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.38 KES 1,471

$39.70 KES 5,132

-71.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.08 KES 5,439

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.47 KES 2,646

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 KES 778

$6.09 KES 787

-1.15%

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

$47.26 KES 6,109

$203 KES 26.3K

-76.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,045 KES 1.0M

$8,007 KES 1.0M

0.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.59 KES 1,498

$18.51 KES 2,393

-37.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.79 KES 3,075

$24.13 KES 3,119

-1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 KES 8,522

$64.8 KES 8,377

1.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.20 KES 4,937

$57.0 KES 7,363

-32.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$92.3 KES 11.9K

$455 KES 58.8K

-79.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.4 KES 8,838

$183 KES 23.7K

-62.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 KES 20.1K

$1,109 KES 143.4K

-85.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

$427 KES 55.2K

-73.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 KES 198.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 KES 116.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$380 KES 49.1K

$440 KES 56.8K

-13.55%

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 Machakos: July 26, 2026

Last update for Nairobi: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $92.3 in Machakos and $455 in Nairobi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nairobi pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Machakos vs $38.00 in Nairobi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $206 per month, with Machakos 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

Machakos vs Nairobi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Nairobi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Nairobi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $92.3 in Machakos versus $455 in Nairobi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $442 per month in Machakos versus $765 in Nairobi – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $442 in Machakos versus $765 in Nairobi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Machakos but tight or insufficient in Nairobi. The gap between the two cities makes Machakos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Machakos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $442 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Machakos hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Machakos and Nairobi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Machakos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.