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

😐 Solo nomad: Nairobi is 67.9% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 74.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Nairobi is 46.6% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 71.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 KES 691

$2.38 KES 307

124.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.93 KES 5,030

$37.98 KES 4,908

2.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 KES 891

$6.88 KES 888

0.15%

Cappuccino

$2.45 KES 317

$1.97 KES 254

24.37%

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

$0.76 KES 98.2

$0.70 KES 90.6

8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 70.3

$0.50 KES 64.9

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 KES 305

$1.95 KES 252

21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 KES 386

$2.78 KES 359

7.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 KES 120

$0.41 KES 52.8

126.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.5

$0.48 KES 62.0

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 KES 207

$0.74 KES 95.8

116.22%

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

$1.42 KES 184

19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 KES 1,476

$11.66 KES 1,507

-2.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 KES 889

$6.57 KES 849

4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 KES 707

$4.73 KES 611

15.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 KES 407

$1.59 KES 205

98.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.76 KES 97.9

38.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 KES 272

$0.38 KES 49.02

455.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$0.37 KES 47.98

172.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 KES 134

$0.80 KES 104

28.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$0.75 KES 96.3

50.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.2

$0.70 KES 90.3

-1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 97.1

$0.37 KES 48.31

102.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 KES 391

$3.13 KES 404

-3.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 KES 1,534

$11.80 KES 1,524

0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 KES 295

$1.96 KES 253

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 KES 352

$2.70 KES 349

1.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KES 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.46 KES 4,066

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.81 KES 104

88.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.78 KES 101

96.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 381

$2.85 KES 368

3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

$1.50 KES 194

2.00%

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

$21.9K KES 2.8M

$21.4K KES 2.8M

2.30%

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

$19.8K KES 2.6M

2.73%

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

$33.71 KES 4,356

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

$17.03 KES 2,201

$7.88 KES 1,019

116.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.73 KES 5,004

$11.40 KES 1,473

239.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.42 KES 5,482

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.09 KES 2,596

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 KES 812

$6.21 KES 803

1.29%

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

$201 KES 26.0K

$45.85 KES 5,925

338.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,031 KES 1.0M

$7,881 KES 1.0M

1.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.05 KES 2,333

$11.68 KES 1,509

54.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.44 KES 3,158

$23.91 KES 3,090

2.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 KES 8,322

$65.7 KES 8,491

-1.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 KES 7,314

$38.48 KES 4,972

47.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 KES 58.8K

$91.2 KES 11.8K

398.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 KES 24.3K

$70.6 KES 9,127

165.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 KES 144.0K

$156 KES 20.2K

614.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 KES 55.2K

$118 KES 15.2K

262.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 KES 207.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$906 KES 117.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$396 KES 51.1K

$381 KES 49.3K

3.74%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Machakos: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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