Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Kisumu Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Kisumu

😐 Solo nomad: Nairobi is 37.8% more expensive than Kisumu without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nairobi is 19.1% more expensive than Kisumu without rent, and 40.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39 KES 696
$4.7 KES 608
14.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.5 KES 4,976
$23.49 KES 3,036
63.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 KES 889
$6.56 KES 848
4.88%
Cappuccino
$2.48 KES 320
$2.19 KES 283
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 96.3
$0.6 KES 78.2
23.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.5 KES 65
$0.53 KES 69.1
-5.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 KES 308
$1.91 KES 247
24.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 KES 377
$2.83 KES 366
2.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 KES 114
$0.53 KES 68.1
66.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 KES 68.1
$0.56 KES 72.3
-5.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 KES 214
$1.65 KES 214
-
Eggs
$1.67 KES 216
$1.62 KES 210
3.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.8 KES 1,525
$11.54 KES 1,491
2.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 KES 878
$6.56 KES 848
3.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.54 KES 715
$5.14 KES 664
7.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 KES 409
$3.02 KES 391
4.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 KES 140
$1.03 KES 134
4.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 KES 276
$2.09 KES 271
2.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 KES 131
$1.06 KES 136
-4.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 KES 132
$1.04 KES 134
-1.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 KES 151
$0.89 KES 116
31.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 KES 84.3
$0.69 KES 88.8
-5.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 KES 96.5
$0.75 KES 96.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 KES 404
$3.14 KES 406
-0.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.69 KES 1,510
$7.93 KES 1,024
47.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 KES 281
$2.18 KES 281
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 KES 359
$2.27 KES 294
22.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 103
$0.75 KES 97.3
5.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.91 KES 3,995
$23.38 KES 3,022
32.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 KES 197
$1.51 KES 195
0.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 KES 201
$1.49 KES 193
4.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 KES 372
$2.98 KES 385
-3.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.58 KES 205
0.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K KES 2.8M
$22K KES 2.8M
-2.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K KES 2.6M
$19.7K KES 2.5M
2.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.87 KES 4,507
$33.78 KES 4,366
3.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.84 KES 2,176
$16.48 KES 2,130
2.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.05 KES 5,046
$40.06 KES 5,178
-2.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.91 KES 5,546
$22.8 KES 2,947
88.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93 KES 2,576
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 KES 813
$6.34 KES 819
-0.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 KES 26.7K
$117 KES 15.1K
76.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,963 KES 1M
$7,994 KES 1M
-0.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.49 KES 2,390
$11.4 KES 1,474
62.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58 KES 3,047
$19.13 KES 2,473
23.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.1 KES 8,289
$15.5 KES 2,003
313.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56 KES 7,233
$15.37 KES 1,987
264.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 KES 56.8K
$133 KES 17.2K
231.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 KES 24.4K
$107 KES 13.9K
75.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 KES 145.4K
$350 KES 45.2K
221.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$430 KES 55.5K
$215 KES 27.8K
99.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,867 KES 241.3K
$764 KES 98.7K
144.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,085 KES 140.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nairobi
Kisumu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$413 KES 53.3K
$789 KES 101.9K
-47.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
12
23.67%

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

Last update for Nairobi: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kisumu: October 28, 2025

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