Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Bungoma Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Bungoma

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $754 in Nairobi versus $260 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,271 in Nairobi versus $375 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,788 in Nairobi versus $490 in Bungoma.

Living in Nairobi is roughly 190% more expensive than Bungoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nairobi 44% lower, Bungoma 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.47 KES 706

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.55 KES 4,976

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 KES 853

Cappuccino

$2.43 KES 314

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

$0.76 KES 98.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 KES 63.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 KES 291

$1.57 KES 203

43.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 369

$1.68 KES 216

70.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$1.04 KES 134

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.4

$0.48 KES 62.6

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KES 213

$1.33 KES 172

24.06%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 219

$1.30 KES 167

30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 KES 1,524

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 KES 885

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.52 KES 712

$3.66 KES 473

50.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 KES 389

$3.12 KES 402

-3.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 268

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 KES 133

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 KES 151

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 82.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 KES 104

$1.15 KES 148

-29.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 KES 390

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 KES 1,493

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 285

$1.58 KES 204

39.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 KES 348

$1.69 KES 218

59.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 KES 94.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 KES 4,030

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 KES 385

$0.75 KES 96.9

297.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 196

$1.42 KES 184

7.04%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

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

$20.0K KES 2.6M

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

$34.67 KES 4,475

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

$16.49 KES 2,128

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.76 KES 5,003

$29.68 KES 3,831

30.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.53 KES 5,619

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 KES 2,623

$19.26 KES 2,486

5.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 KES 817

$3.82 KES 493

65.71%

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

$204 KES 26.4K

$61.7 KES 7,957

231.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.53 KES 2,392

$11.84 KES 1,528

56.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.86 KES 3,079

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 KES 8,427

$38.59 KES 4,980

69.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.8 KES 7,329

$19.00 KES 2,452

198.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 KES 58.3K

$116 KES 15.0K

287.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 KES 23.6K

$92.7 KES 12.0K

97.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 KES 144.5K

$270 KES 34.8K

315.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 KES 55.9K

$147 KES 19.0K

194.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,525 KES 196.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$902 KES 116.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$406 KES 52.4K

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 Nairobi: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Nairobi and $116 in Bungoma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Nairobi vs Bungoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 190% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,131 in Nairobi and $390 in Bungoma 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $452 in Nairobi versus $116 in Bungoma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 166% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $204 in Nairobi versus $61.7 in Bungoma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bungoma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Bungoma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nairobi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Nairobi and Bungoma 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 Bungoma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.