Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Migori Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Migori

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $856 in Nairobi versus $545 in Migori.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,396 in Nairobi versus $885 in Migori.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Nairobi versus $1,226 in Migori.

Living in Nairobi is roughly 57% more expensive than in Migori, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nairobi 37% lower, Migori 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52 KES 584
$4.68 KES 606
-3.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.08 KES 4,410
$35.10 KES 4,542
-2.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 KES 804
$6.26 KES 809
-0.80%
Cappuccino
$2.75 KES 356
$2.70 KES 350
1.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 KES 77.4
$0.64 KES 82.7
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 KES 80.7
$0.62 KES 80.5
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.37 KES 307
$2.25 KES 291
5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 KES 340
$2.75 KES 356
-4.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 KES 112
$0.94 KES 122
-8.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 KES 76.0
$0.55 KES 70.7
7.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 KES 252
$1.86 KES 241
4.84%
Eggs
$1.71 KES 221
$1.74 KES 226
-1.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 KES 1,408
$10.94 KES 1,415
-0.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 KES 837
$6.59 KES 853
-1.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.25 KES 809
$6.35 KES 822
-1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 KES 434
$3.35 KES 434
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 KES 137
$1.08 KES 140
-1.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 KES 253
$1.97 KES 254
-1.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 KES 141
$1.09 KES 141
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 KES 140
$1.09 KES 141
-0.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 KES 134
$1.09 KES 141
-4.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 KES 94.5
$0.74 KES 96.0
-1.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 KES 102
$0.78 KES 101
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 KES 441
$3.53 KES 457
-3.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.77 KES 1,523
$11.46 KES 1,483
2.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 KES 287
$2.28 KES 295
-2.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 KES 359
$2.81 KES 363
-1.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 KES 104
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.15 KES 6,101
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 KES 204
$1.53 KES 197
2.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 KES 197
$1.50 KES 194
1.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 KES 367
$2.89 KES 374
-2.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 KES 205
$1.51 KES 195
5.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K KES 2.7M
$21.3K KES 2.8M
-0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K KES 2.6M
$20.5K KES 2.6M
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.9 KES 8,006
$61.5 KES 7,957
0.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.82 KES 2,047
$15.84 KES 2,050
-0.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.23 KES 4,688
$36.18 KES 4,682
0.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 KES 6,564
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.40 KES 1,992
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.68 KES 994
$7.90 KES 1,023
-2.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$245 KES 31.7K
$253 KES 32.7K
-2.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K KES 1.5M
$11.4K KES 1.5M
1.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.45 KES 3,681
$27.66 KES 3,579
2.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.24 KES 3,654
$27.57 KES 3,568
2.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.7 KES 9,022
$69.5 KES 8,991
0.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5 KES 7,702
$59.1 KES 7,653
0.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 KES 56.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 KES 27.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 KES 143.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 KES 64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,298 KES 168.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$898 KES 116.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nairobi
Migori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$484 KES 62.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
14.71
-

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

Last update for Nairobi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Migori: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Nairobi vs $35.00 in Migori for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $208 per month, with Nairobi cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Nairobi vs Migori: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nairobi and in Migori?
Nairobi and Migori differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($856 vs $545 including rent). Migori is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nairobi compared to Migori?
You'd need roughly $1,283 in Nairobi and $817 in Migori to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Nairobi pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nairobi or Migori?
All in, you'll spend $856 per month in Nairobi versus $545 in Migori – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $545 in Migori versus $856 in Nairobi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Migori but tight or insufficient in Nairobi. The gap between the two cities makes Migori the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nairobi and Migori?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Nairobi or Migori?
Expats usually find Migori gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nairobi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities