Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Homa Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Homa Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $856 per month in Nairobi vs $58.4 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,407 per month in Nairobi vs $451 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,959 per month in Nairobi vs $843 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 1366% more than Homa Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nairobi and Homa Bay are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 37% lower, Homa Bay 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 KES 610

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.21 KES 4,436

$151 KES 19.5K

-77.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.13 KES 795

$10.57 KES 1,371

-42.01%

Cappuccino

$2.82 KES 366

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

$0.63 KES 81.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 KES 77.3

$1.02 KES 132

-41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 294

$2.43 KES 315

-6.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 KES 346

$5.06 KES 656

-47.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 KES 69.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 KES 241

Eggs

$1.69 KES 219

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 KES 1,402

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 KES 819

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 KES 799

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 KES 414

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 KES 258

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 KES 146

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 KES 88.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 100

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 KES 448

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 KES 1,472

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 KES 289

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 KES 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 KES 98.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.49 KES 6,028

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 KES 205

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 KES 201

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 KES 384

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

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

$21.4K KES 2.8M

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

$20.2K KES 2.6M

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

$62.0 KES 8,037

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

$15.36 KES 1,991

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.09 KES 4,679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 KES 6,591

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.14 KES 1,963

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 KES 985

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

$253 KES 32.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K KES 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.49 KES 3,695

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.33 KES 3,673

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 KES 8,929

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 KES 7,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 KES 56.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 KES 28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 KES 148.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 KES 65.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,334 KES 172.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$904 KES 117.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 KES 62.3K

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 28, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nairobi versus $151 in Homa Bay. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the 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 Homa Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nairobi is pricier by about 1366%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,284 per month in Nairobi and $87.6 in Homa Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $856 in Nairobi and $58.4 in Homa Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nairobi and $151 in Homa Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Homa Bay, where all-in costs run around $58.4, than in Nairobi at $856. In Homa Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nairobi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Homa Bay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Homa Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nairobi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.