Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Kisii Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Kisii

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $782 in Nairobi versus $64.9 in Kisii.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,305 in Nairobi versus $101 in Kisii.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,828 in Nairobi versus $137 in Kisii.

Living in Nairobi is roughly 1106% more expensive than Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nairobi 42% lower, Kisii 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 KES 693

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.02 KES 4,926

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 KES 895

Cappuccino

$2.39 KES 309

$1.43 KES 185

67.13%

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

$0.71 KES 91.9

$1.34 KES 174

-47.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 65.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 KES 299

$1.81 KES 234

27.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 KES 385

$2.37 KES 307

25.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 KES 122

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 KES 68.3

$0.48 KES 62.6

10.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 212

Eggs

$1.69 KES 218

$1.88 KES 243

-10.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.74 KES 1,521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 KES 886

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 KES 705

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 KES 392

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 269

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 KES 138

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 150

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 KES 90.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 394

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 KES 1,511

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 288

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 96.7

$0.38 KES 49.01

97.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 KES 3,963

$15.43 KES 1,999

98.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

$0.75 KES 97.0

112.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 195

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 KES 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 KES 202

$1.62 KES 210

-3.70%

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

$22.0K KES 2.9M

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

$11.5K KES 1.5M

77.71%

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

$34.70 KES 4,495

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

$16.60 KES 2,151

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 KES 5,122

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.29 KES 5,608

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.63 KES 2,672

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 KES 787

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

$202 KES 26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,140 KES 1.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.28 KES 2,368

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.56 KES 3,053

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 KES 8,605

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.7 KES 7,339

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 KES 58.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 KES 23.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 KES 146.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 KES 54.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,558 KES 201.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 KES 114.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$416 KES 53.9K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kisii: June 1, 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 Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kisii wins on cost – living expenses run 1106% lower than in Nairobi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kisii the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,174 in Nairobi and $97.3 in Kisii 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.

All in, you'll spend $782 per month in Nairobi versus $64.9 in Kisii – a 1106% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1574% higher in Nairobi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kisii gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kisii delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $64.9 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kisii hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Kisii gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1106% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.