Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Naivasha Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Naivasha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $856 per month in Nairobi vs $549 in Naivasha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,396 per month in Nairobi vs $883 in Naivasha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,937 per month in Nairobi vs $1,216 in Naivasha, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 56% more than Naivasha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Nairobi and Naivasha are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 37% lower, Naivasha 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 KES 584

$4.67 KES 604

-3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.08 KES 4,410

$35.04 KES 4,534

-2.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 KES 804

$6.31 KES 817

-1.58%

Cappuccino

$2.75 KES 356

$2.74 KES 354

0.36%

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

$0.63 KES 81.6

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 KES 307

$2.37 KES 306

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 KES 340

$2.73 KES 354

-3.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 112

$0.93 KES 121

-7.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 KES 76.0

$0.57 KES 74.3

3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KES 252

$1.89 KES 244

3.17%

Eggs

$1.71 KES 221

$1.68 KES 218

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 KES 1,408

$10.76 KES 1,392

1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 KES 837

$6.48 KES 839

-0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 KES 809

$6.28 KES 812

-0.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 KES 434

$3.33 KES 431

0.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 KES 137

$1.07 KES 139

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 KES 253

$1.98 KES 256

-1.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$1.15 KES 149

-5.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 KES 140

$1.09 KES 141

-0.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 KES 134

$1.08 KES 140

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 KES 94.5

$0.68 KES 88.6

7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 KES 102

$0.75 KES 96.6

5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 KES 441

$3.54 KES 459

-3.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 KES 1,523

$11.65 KES 1,507

1.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 KES 287

$2.31 KES 299

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 KES 359

$2.81 KES 364

-1.07%

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

$1.52 KES 197

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 KES 197

$1.50 KES 195

1.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 KES 367

$2.92 KES 377

-3.08%

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

$21.5K KES 2.8M

-1.16%

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

$20.4K KES 2.6M

$20.1K KES 2.6M

1.86%

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

$61.9 KES 8,006

$63.2 KES 8,180

-2.14%

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

$15.82 KES 2,047

$15.86 KES 2,052

-0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.23 KES 4,688

$35.78 KES 4,630

1.26%

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

$7.77 KES 1,005

-1.16%

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

$245 KES 31.7K

$252 KES 32.6K

-2.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K KES 1.5M

$11.5K KES 1.5M

0.48%

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

$27.43 KES 3,550

2.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 KES 9,022

$70.9 KES 9,168

-1.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.5 KES 7,702

$59.1 KES 7,646

0.73%

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

$778 KES 100.7K

66.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 KES 116.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 KES 62.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Naivasha: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nairobi versus $35.00 in Naivasha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $207 – making Nairobi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Naivasha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nairobi costs about 56% more than Naivasha, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,283 per month in Nairobi and $823 in Naivasha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nairobi and $35.00 in Naivasha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Nairobi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Naivasha, where all-in costs run around $549, than in Nairobi at $856. In Naivasha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nairobi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Naivasha costs $549 versus $856 in Nairobi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Naivasha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nairobi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.