Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Busia

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 KES 369

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KES 213

Eggs

$1.70 KES 219

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 KES 1,524

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 KES 885

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.52 KES 712

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 KES 389

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

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 KES 348

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

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 KES 196

$1.38 KES 178

10.14%

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

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.53 KES 5,619

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 KES 2,623

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 KES 817

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

$204 KES 26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.53 KES 2,392

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.86 KES 3,079

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 KES 8,427

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.8 KES 7,329

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 KES 58.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 KES 23.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 KES 144.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 KES 55.9K

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 Busia: April 26, 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 Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Busia 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.

It comes down to priorities – Busia wins on affordability, Nairobi on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.