Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Meru Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Meru

😐 Solo nomad: Nairobi is 9.2% more expensive than Meru without rent, and 63.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nairobi is 18.9% more expensive than Meru without rent, and 60.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35 KES 691
$5.36 KES 693
-0.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93 KES 5,030
$38.28 KES 4,947
1.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.89 KES 891
$6.76 KES 874
1.92%
Cappuccino
$2.45 KES 317
$2.35 KES 303
4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 KES 98.2
$0.76 KES 98.3
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 70.3
$0.50 KES 65.2
8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 KES 305
$2.33 KES 302
1.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 KES 386
$2.98 KES 385
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 KES 120
$0.87 KES 112
6.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 KES 72.5
$0.41 KES 52.6
36.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 KES 207
$1.11 KES 144
44.14%
Eggs
$1.70 KES 220
$1.44 KES 186
18.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 KES 1,476
$11.59 KES 1,498
-1.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.88 KES 889
$6.82 KES 881
0.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.47 KES 707
$5.07 KES 656
7.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 KES 407
$3.03 KES 392
3.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 KES 135
$0.73 KES 94.9
43.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 KES 272
$0.79 KES 102
167.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 KES 130
$0.79 KES 103
27.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 KES 134
$1.03 KES 133
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 KES 146
$0.99 KES 128
14.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 KES 89.2
$0.24 KES 31.17
187.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 KES 97.1
$0.45 KES 58.1
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 KES 391
$3.06 KES 395
-1.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.87 KES 1,534
$11.47 KES 1,482
3.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 KES 295
$2.22 KES 287
2.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 KES 352
$2.68 KES 346
1.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
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
$1.51 KES 195
1.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.50 KES 193
2.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 KES 381
$2.86 KES 370
3.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.03 KES 133
48.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K KES 2.8M
$21.5K KES 2.8M
1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K KES 2.6M
$20.3K KES 2.6M
0.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.71 KES 4,356
$33.85 KES 4,374
-0.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.03 KES 2,201
$16.52 KES 2,135
3.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.73 KES 5,004
$39.40 KES 5,091
-1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
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
$6.06 KES 783
3.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 KES 26.0K
$204 KES 26.3K
-1.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,031 KES 1.0M
$8,107 KES 1.0M
-0.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.05 KES 2,333
$18.06 KES 2,334
-0.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.44 KES 3,158
$23.69 KES 3,062
3.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 KES 8,322
$64.3 KES 8,304
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.6 KES 7,314
$56.3 KES 7,271
0.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 KES 58.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 KES 24.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 KES 144.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 KES 55.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,605 KES 207.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$906 KES 117.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nairobi
Meru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$396 KES 51.1K
-
-
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Meru: March 3, 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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