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 $858 per month in Nairobi vs $58.7 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,394 per month in Nairobi vs $453 in Homa Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,931 per month in Nairobi vs $848 in Homa Bay, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 1363% 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

$5.33 KES 690

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.72 KES 4,493

$148 KES 19.1K

-76.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 KES 776

$10.50 KES 1,359

-42.86%

Cappuccino

$2.83 KES 366

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

$0.63 KES 80.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 66.6

$1.03 KES 133

-50.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 KES 293

$2.48 KES 321

-8.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 KES 341

$5.14 KES 665

-48.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 69.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 KES 249

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 KES 1,415

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 KES 850

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.14 KES 794

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 KES 420

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 KES 133

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 KES 262

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 136

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 KES 129

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 KES 94.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 KES 460

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 KES 1,487

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 286

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 KES 367

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KES 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.12 KES 6,098

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 KES 206

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 KES 378

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 KES 200

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

$18.8K KES 2.4M

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

$19.2K KES 2.5M

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

$56.3 KES 7,289

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

$15.72 KES 2,034

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 KES 4,456

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.10 KES 6,354

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.47 KES 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 KES 993

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

$240 KES 31.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K KES 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.08 KES 3,504

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.20 KES 3,260

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 KES 8,168

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 KES 7,719

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 KES 55.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 KES 27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 KES 146.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 KES 66.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 KES 182.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$892 KES 115.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 KES 60.5K

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Homa Bay: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nairobi versus $148 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 1363%, 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 $1,287 per month in Nairobi and $88.0 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 $858 in Nairobi and $58.7 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 $35.00 in Nairobi and $148 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 $58.7, than in Nairobi at $858. 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.