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

😐 Solo nomad: Nairobi is 57.1% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 64.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Nairobi is 50.2% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 70.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 KES 693

$2.31 KES 298

132.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.46 KES 4,959

$38.53 KES 4,968

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 KES 886

$6.76 KES 871

1.63%

Cappuccino

$2.43 KES 314

$1.88 KES 242

29.26%

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

$0.71 KES 91.3

$0.76 KES 97.4

-6.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 KES 68.4

$0.51 KES 65.3

3.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 KES 302

$1.89 KES 244

23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 KES 382

$2.78 KES 359

6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 KES 112

$0.41 KES 52.4

112.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 KES 67.6

$0.47 KES 60.6

10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KES 212

$0.79 KES 102

107.59%

Eggs

$1.65 KES 212

$1.40 KES 181

17.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 KES 1,483

$11.78 KES 1,519

-2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KES 862

$6.63 KES 855

0.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.65 KES 729

$4.76 KES 614

18.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 KES 394

$1.59 KES 205

92.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.75 KES 97.2

38.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 KES 268

$0.40 KES 52.1

420.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$0.37 KES 48.32

183.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$0.78 KES 101

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 KES 149

$0.78 KES 101

48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 KES 83.0

$0.69 KES 89.4

-7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 95.7

$0.41 KES 52.3

80.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KES 388

$3.02 KES 389

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 KES 1,478

$11.60 KES 1,496

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 KES 284

$1.95 KES 251

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 KES 360

$2.69 KES 347

3.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.16 KES 4,018

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

$0.73 KES 94.8

109.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 KES 194

$0.80 KES 103

88.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 KES 377

$2.85 KES 367

2.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 KES 198

$1.50 KES 194

2.67%

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

$21.7K KES 2.8M

$21.6K KES 2.8M

0.77%

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

$20.0K KES 2.6M

$20.1K KES 2.6M

-0.46%

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

$34.34 KES 4,429

$34.74 KES 4,480

-1.15%

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

$17.10 KES 2,205

$7.56 KES 975

126.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.63 KES 5,111

$11.75 KES 1,515

237.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 KES 5,606

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.53 KES 2,647

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 KES 778

$6.24 KES 805

-3.37%

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

$206 KES 26.6K

$46.66 KES 6,017

342.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,893 KES 1.0M

$8,128 KES 1.0M

-2.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.34 KES 2,366

$11.68 KES 1,507

57.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.06 KES 3,103

$23.60 KES 3,043

1.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 KES 8,303

$66.6 KES 8,586

-3.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 KES 7,251

$38.53 KES 4,968

45.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 KES 58.4K

$93.2 KES 12.0K

385.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 KES 23.6K

$69.1 KES 8,913

164.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 KES 143.2K

$156 KES 20.1K

611.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 KES 55.4K

$118 KES 15.2K

263.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,546 KES 199.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$911 KES 117.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 KES 50.7K

$391 KES 50.5K

0.50%

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: January 10, 2026

Last update for Machakos: January 13, 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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