Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Siaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Siaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Nairobi vs $130 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Nairobi vs $222 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,832 per month in Nairobi vs $314 in Siaya, rent included.

Nairobi costs about 489% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Nairobi and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Nairobi 43% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 KES 717

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.48 KES 4,973

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 KES 858

Cappuccino

$2.49 KES 322

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

$0.70 KES 91.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KES 65.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 KES 306

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 366

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 KES 111

$0.80 KES 103

7.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.6

$0.45 KES 57.7

24.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 KES 207

$1.23 KES 159

30.08%

Eggs

$1.68 KES 216

$1.69 KES 219

-0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 KES 1,513

$9.47 KES 1,224

23.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 KES 894

$5.58 KES 721

23.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 KES 729

$4.06 KES 524

38.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 KES 398

$1.81 KES 234

70.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 KES 139

$1.07 KES 138

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 KES 266

$1.58 KES 204

30.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 KES 135

$0.88 KES 114

18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 KES 138

$0.82 KES 107

30.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KES 149

$0.83 KES 107

38.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 KES 84.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 KES 96.6

$0.51 KES 65.6

47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KES 409

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 KES 1,524

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 KES 285

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 KES 365

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.90 KES 3,993

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 KES 198

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 KES 193

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 KES 382

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 KES 198

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

$22.1K KES 2.9M

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

$19.8K KES 2.6M

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

$33.74 KES 4,360

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

$16.72 KES 2,160

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.94 KES 5,032

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.13 KES 5,574

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 KES 2,665

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 KES 822

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

$205 KES 26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,113 KES 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.49 KES 2,389

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.69 KES 3,062

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 KES 8,310

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 KES 7,185

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 KES 56.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 KES 24.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 KES 147.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 KES 55.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,526 KES 197.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$909 KES 117.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 KES 55.7K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Siaya: July 13, 2026

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 Siaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nairobi costs about 489% more than Siaya, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,147 per month in Nairobi and $195 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $765 in Nairobi and $130 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Nairobi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $765 in Nairobi and $130 in Siaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siaya costs $130 versus $765 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 Siaya. 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.