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: $856 in Nairobi versus $145 in Bungoma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,396 in Nairobi versus $293 in Bungoma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Nairobi versus $441 in Bungoma.

Living in Nairobi is roughly 489% more expensive than in Bungoma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nairobi 37% lower, Bungoma 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 KES 584

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.08 KES 4,410

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 KES 804

Cappuccino

$2.75 KES 356

$5.40 KES 699

-49.07%

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

$0.60 KES 77.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 KES 80.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 KES 307

$1.57 KES 203

50.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

$1.73 KES 224

52.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 112

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 KES 76.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KES 252

Eggs

$1.71 KES 221

$1.23 KES 159

39.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 KES 1,408

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 KES 837

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 KES 809

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 KES 434

$3.02 KES 391

10.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$0.91 KES 117

16.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 KES 253

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 KES 94.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 KES 441

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 KES 1,523

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 287

$1.56 KES 201

42.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 359

$1.74 KES 225

59.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 104

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.15 KES 6,101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 KES 204

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 197

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 KES 367

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 KES 205

$1.38 KES 178

15.22%

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

$21.2K KES 2.7M

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

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

$61.9 KES 8,006

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

$15.82 KES 2,047

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.23 KES 4,688

$29.21 KES 3,780

24.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.7 KES 6,564

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.40 KES 1,992

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 KES 994

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

$245 KES 31.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K KES 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.45 KES 3,681

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.24 KES 3,654

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 KES 9,022

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.5 KES 7,702

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 KES 56.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 KES 27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 KES 143.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 KES 64.8K

$170 KES 21.9K

195.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,298 KES 168.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 KES 116.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 KES 62.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

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

Last update for Nairobi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bungoma: September 13, 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

Nairobi vs Bungoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 489% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,283 in Nairobi and $218 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 464% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $856 per month in Nairobi versus $145 in Bungoma – a 489% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $145 in Bungoma versus $856 in Nairobi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bungoma but tight or insufficient in Nairobi. The gap between the two cities makes Bungoma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 489% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.