Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and NarokCost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Narok
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $856 per month in Nairobi vs $606 in Narok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,396 per month in Nairobi vs $912 in Narok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,937 per month in Nairobi vs $1,217 in Narok, rent included.
😐Nairobi costs about 41% more than Narok, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nairobi and Narok are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi37% lower, Narok56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52KES 584
$2.37KES 306
90.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.08KES 4,410
$23.12KES 2,992
47.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21KES 804
$4.65KES 601
33.55%
Cappuccino
$2.75KES 356
$1.92KES 248
43.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60KES 77.4
$0.41KES 52.4
46.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62KES 80.7
$0.22KES 28.39
181.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37KES 307
$1.92KES 248
23.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63KES 340
$2.34KES 302
12.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86KES 112
$0.79KES 102
8.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59KES 76.0
$0.48KES 61.9
22.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95KES 252
$1.37KES 178
42.34%
Eggs
$1.71KES 221
$1.26KES 163
35.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88KES 1,408
$6.26KES 810
73.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47KES 837
$6.14KES 794
5.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.25KES 809
$6.25KES 809
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.35KES 434
$3.11KES 402
7.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06KES 137
$1.03KES 133
2.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95KES 253
$1.99KES 257
-2.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09KES 141
$0.80KES 103
36.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08KES 140
$0.81KES 105
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04KES 134
$0.81KES 105
28.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73KES 94.5
$0.69KES 89.4
5.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79KES 102
$0.53KES 68.1
49.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41KES 441
$1.57KES 203
117.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.77KES 1,523
$6.93KES 897
69.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22KES 287
$1.88KES 243
18.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78KES 359
$2.36KES 305
17.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80KES 104
$1.15KES 148
-30.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.15KES 6,101
$39.32KES 5,088
19.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57KES 204
$1.52KES 197
3.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52KES 197
$1.37KES 177
10.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.83KES 367
$1.15KES 149
146.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59KES 205
$1.38KES 179
15.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KKES 2.7M
$19.0KKES 2.5M
11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KKES 2.6M
$20.1KKES 2.6M
1.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.9KES 8,006
$61.5KES 7,959
0.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.82KES 2,047
$7.66KES 991
106.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.23KES 4,688
$23.13KES 2,993
56.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7KES 6,564
$23.42KES 3,030
116.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.40KES 1,992
$2.31KES 299
566.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68KES 994
$7.80KES 1,009
-1.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$245KES 31.7K
$57.8KES 7,473
324.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KKES 1.5M
$7,656KES 990.6K
51.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.45KES 3,681
$15.56KES 2,014
82.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.24KES 3,654
$15.54KES 2,011
81.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7KES 9,022
$22.93KES 2,967
204.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5KES 7,702
$38.21KES 4,945
55.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437KES 56.6K
$230KES 29.8K
90.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214KES 27.7K
$153KES 19.8K
40.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112KES 143.9K
$309KES 40.0K
260.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501KES 64.8K
$234KES 30.3K
113.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,298KES 168.0K
$1,563KES 202.2K
-16.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$898KES 116.2K
$1,155KES 149.5K
-22.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nairobi
Narok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$484KES 62.7K
$308KES 39.9K
57.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.71
13
13.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nairobi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Narok: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Nairobi versus $230 in Narok. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 57% higher in Nairobi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nairobi versus $23.00 in Narok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $166 – making Narok 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 Narok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nairobi or Narok?
Nairobi costs about 41% more than Narok, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nairobi and in Narok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,283 per month in Nairobi and $908 in Narok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nairobi or Narok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Narok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Nairobi compared to Narok?
Public transport costs about 20% less in Narok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Nairobi and in Narok?
Kindergarten costs $245 per month in Nairobi and $57.8 in Narok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Nairobi or in Narok?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Narok, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Nairobi at $856. In Narok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nairobi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nairobi or Narok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Narok costs $606 versus $856 in Nairobi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Nairobi or to Narok?
If budget matters most, go with Narok. 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.