Cost of Living Comparison Between Meru and Nairobi Cost of Living Comparison Between Meru and Nairobi

🙂 Solo nomad: Meru is 15.7% cheaper than Nairobi without rent, and 38.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Meru is 8.2% cheaper than Nairobi without rent, and 36.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37 KES 694
$5.39 KES 696
-0.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.81 KES 5,016
$38.5 KES 4,976
0.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 KES 902
$6.88 KES 889
1.45%
Cappuccino
$2.38 KES 307
$2.48 KES 320
-4.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 92.5
$0.74 KES 96.3
-2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.5 KES 65.2
$0.5 KES 65
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 KES 292
$2.38 KES 308
-5.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 KES 385
$2.91 KES 377
2.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 KES 112
$0.88 KES 114
-2.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.38 KES 48.62
$0.53 KES 68.1
-28.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 KES 142
$1.65 KES 214
-33.33%
Eggs
$1.39 KES 179
$1.67 KES 216
-16.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 KES 1,514
$11.8 KES 1,525
-0.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.77 KES 874
$6.79 KES 878
-0.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.98 KES 643
$5.54 KES 715
-10.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 KES 404
$3.16 KES 409
-1.27%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 KES 96.5
$1.08 KES 140
-30.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 KES 104
$2.14 KES 276
-62.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 KES 97.4
$1.01 KES 131
-25.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 KES 138
$1.02 KES 132
4.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$1.17 KES 151
-11.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.24 KES 31.17
$0.65 KES 84.3
-63.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 KES 57.6
$0.75 KES 96.5
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 KES 404
$3.13 KES 404
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 KES 1,510
$11.69 KES 1,510
-0.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 KES 288
$2.18 KES 281
2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 KES 352
$2.77 KES 359
-1.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 KES 103
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30.91 KES 3,995
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 KES 197
$1.52 KES 197
0.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.5 KES 194
$1.56 KES 201
-3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 KES 377
$2.87 KES 372
1.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 KES 133
$1.59 KES 206
-35.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K KES 2.8M
$21.4K KES 2.8M
1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K KES 2.6M
$20.2K KES 2.6M
-1.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.99 KES 4,522
$34.87 KES 4,507
0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.73 KES 2,162
$16.84 KES 2,176
-0.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.14 KES 5,188
$39.05 KES 5,046
2.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$42.91 KES 5,546
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.93 KES 2,576
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.33 KES 818
$6.29 KES 813
0.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$204 KES 26.3K
$207 KES 26.7K
-1.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,145 KES 1.1M
$7,963 KES 1M
2.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.26 KES 2,360
$18.49 KES 2,390
-1.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.34 KES 3,146
$23.58 KES 3,047
3.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 KES 8,573
$64.1 KES 8,289
3.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.2 KES 7,266
$56 KES 7,233
0.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$439 KES 56.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$188 KES 24.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,125 KES 145.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$430 KES 55.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,867 KES 241.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,085 KES 140.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meru
Nairobi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$413 KES 53.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
14.84
-

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

Last update for Meru: October 28, 2025

Last update for Nairobi: October 28, 2025

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