Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Machakos Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Machakos

😐 Solo nomad: Nairobi is 56.9% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 74.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nairobi is 25.8% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 66.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.39 KES 696
$2.31 KES 298
133.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.5 KES 4,976
$39.11 KES 5,054
-1.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.88 KES 889
$6.63 KES 857
3.77%
Cappuccino
$2.48 KES 320
$1.87 KES 242
32.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 96.3
$0.7 KES 90.7
5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.5 KES 65
$0.51 KES 65.5
-1.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 KES 308
$1.9 KES 245
25.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 KES 377
$2.65 KES 343
9.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 KES 114
$0.41 KES 52.8
114.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 KES 68.1
$0.44 KES 57.2
20.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 KES 214
$0.76 KES 98
117.11%
Eggs
$1.67 KES 216
$1.37 KES 178
21.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.8 KES 1,525
$11.47 KES 1,482
2.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 KES 878
$6.9 KES 892
-1.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.54 KES 715
$4.56 KES 589
21.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 KES 409
$1.58 KES 204
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 KES 140
$0.75 KES 97.5
44.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 KES 276
$0.41 KES 52.6
421.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 KES 131
$0.4 KES 52.2
152.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 KES 132
$0.8 KES 104
27.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 KES 151
$0.76 KES 97.7
53.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 KES 84.3
$0.64 KES 83.2
1.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 KES 96.5
$0.38 KES 48.73
97.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 KES 404
$3.03 KES 392
3.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.69 KES 1,510
$11.65 KES 1,505
0.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 KES 281
$1.94 KES 251
12.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 KES 359
$2.78 KES 360
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KES 103
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.91 KES 3,995
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 KES 197
$0.75 KES 97.3
102.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 KES 201
$0.8 KES 103
95.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 KES 372
$2.94 KES 380
-2.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.45 KES 187
9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K KES 2.8M
$22.1K KES 2.9M
-2.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K KES 2.6M
$20K KES 2.6M
1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.87 KES 4,507
$34.05 KES 4,401
2.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.84 KES 2,176
$7.71 KES 997
118.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.05 KES 5,046
$11.83 KES 1,529
230.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.91 KES 5,546
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93 KES 2,576
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 KES 813
$6.32 KES 817
-0.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 KES 26.7K
$46.98 KES 6,072
339.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,963 KES 1M
$8,164 KES 1.1M
-2.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.49 KES 2,390
$11.76 KES 1,520
57.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58 KES 3,047
$23.69 KES 3,061
-0.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.1 KES 8,289
$64.5 KES 8,337
-0.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56 KES 7,233
$38.4 KES 4,963
45.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 KES 56.8K
$91.5 KES 11.8K
380.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 KES 24.4K
$70.2 KES 9,076
168.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 KES 145.4K
$154 KES 19.9K
630.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$430 KES 55.5K
$114 KES 14.7K
276.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,867 KES 241.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,085 KES 140.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nairobi
Machakos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$413 KES 53.3K
$383 KES 49.5K
7.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
14.84
-

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

Last update for Nairobi: October 28, 2025

Last update for Machakos: October 29, 2025

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