CityCost App
Cost of living in 8000+ cities on the go.

Cost of Living in Nairobi - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $559 (excluding rent), and $754 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,335 (excluding rent), and $1,801 including rent.
Currency
Do you live in Nairobi? Add cost details
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.38 KES 694
$2.30 KES 297
$7.68 KES 991
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.46 KES 4,961
$19.23 KES 2,481
$61.6 KES 7,939
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 KES 886
$5.47 KES 705
$8.05 KES 1,039
Cappuccino
$2.43 KES 314
$0.93 KES 121
$5.99 KES 773
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 KES 91.3
$0.45 KES 57.5
$1.20 KES 155
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 68.5
$0.40 KES 51.3
$1.18 KES 153
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 KES 302
$1.95 KES 252
$3.91 KES 504
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 KES 382
$2.37 KES 305
$4.74 KES 611
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 KES 112
$0.52 KES 67.2
$1.12 KES 144
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 KES 67.6
$0.48 KES 61.5
$0.81 KES 104
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 KES 212
$0.94 KES 122
$3.14 KES 405
Eggs
$1.65 KES 212
$1.23 KES 159
$2.77 KES 357
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.50 KES 1,484
$5.07 KES 654
$30.64 KES 3,952
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.68 KES 862
$3.06 KES 395
$8.46 KES 1,091
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.65 KES 729
$4.29 KES 554
$7.01 KES 905
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 KES 395
$1.37 KES 177
$3.82 KES 493
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 KES 134
$0.67 KES 86.3
$1.90 KES 245
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 KES 268
$0.75 KES 97.2
$4.08 KES 527
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 KES 135
$0.47 KES 60.3
$1.96 KES 253
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 KES 134
$0.45 KES 58.7
$2.29 KES 296
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 KES 149
$0.47 KES 60.2
$1.96 KES 252
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 KES 83.0
$0.37 KES 48.32
$1.49 KES 192
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 95.7
$0.44 KES 56.5
$1.10 KES 142
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 KES 388
$1.51 KES 195
$3.77 KES 486
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 KES 1,479
$6.88 KES 887
$19.10 KES 2,464
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 KES 284
$1.53 KES 197
$2.72 KES 350
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 KES 360
$1.95 KES 252
$3.91 KES 505
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 KES 103
$0.56 KES 72.1
$1.60 KES 207
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.16 KES 4,019
$23.36 KES 3,014
$46.73 KES 6,028
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 KES 198
$1.38 KES 177
$2.30 KES 296
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 KES 194
$1.13 KES 146
$2.27 KES 293
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 KES 377
$2.34 KES 301
$5.46 KES 704
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 KES 198
$1.34 KES 173
$1.69 KES 217
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K KES 2.8M
$15.5K KES 2.0M
$23.3K KES 3.0M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K KES 2.6M
$15.5K KES 2.0M
$31.0K KES 4.0M
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.34 KES 4,430
$17.01 KES 2,194
$65.7 KES 8,477
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.10 KES 2,206
$7.87 KES 1,016
$39.35 KES 5,077
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63 KES 5,113
$23.36 KES 3,013
$77.9 KES 10.0K
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.48 KES 5,609
$15.69 KES 2,024
$78.5 KES 10.1K
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.53 KES 2,648
$7.82 KES 1,009
$35.20 KES 4,540
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 KES 778
$4.52 KES 583
$9.04 KES 1,166
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$206 KES 26.6K
$94.5 KES 12.2K
$394 KES 50.8K
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,893 KES 1.0M
$3,797 KES 489.8K
$15.2K KES 2.0M
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.34 KES 2,366
$9.33 KES 1,204
$38.90 KES 5,018
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.06 KES 3,104
$11.62 KES 1,500
$46.48 KES 5,996
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 KES 8,307
$22.85 KES 2,948
$145 KES 18.7K
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.2 KES 7,253
$23.08 KES 2,978
$115 KES 14.9K
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 KES 58.4K
$235 KES 30.3K
$941 KES 121.4K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 KES 23.6K
$115 KES 14.8K
$344 KES 44.4K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 KES 143.3K
$765 KES 98.7K
$1,913 KES 246.8K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 KES 55.4K
$273 KES 35.3K
$781 KES 100.7K
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,546 KES 199.4K
$1,262 KES 162.8K
$2,945 KES 379.9K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$911 KES 117.5K
$691 KES 89.2K
$1,716 KES 221.4K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$393 KES 50.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
11
18

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

Last update: January 10, 2026

Nairobi Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Download
39
Mbps
Upload
12
Mbps
Latency
22
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
22
Mbps
Upload
21
Mbps
Latency
10
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
City tags:
Cost of Living in Nairobi - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Nairobi, Kenya compare in terms of overall affordability for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
Overall, Nairobi offers a workable mix of value and variety for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. Essentials like groceries, transit, and casual dining can be affordable in many neighborhoods, while central business districts and upscale expat enclaves tend to be pricier. The Cost of Living in Nairobi, Kenya is highly dependent on where you stay and how you spend – short-term stays in shared spaces beat boutique hotels, and local markets can cut daily costs when you shop with a sense of seasonality. Square footage and security considerations influence rent more than you might expect. Tip: plan a few core neighborhoods you like and test how tasks – commuting, coworking, groceries – fit your daily rhythm.
What does daily life look like in Nairobi for budgeting and practical living – housing search, food options, transport, coworking spots, and errands?
Daily life centers on a mix of markets, mid-range eateries, and robust transit options. For housing, look beyond the formal leases: many expats start with short-term stays while scouting neighborhoods, then settle in places that balance safety, access to amenities, and price. Food choices range from affordable local bowls to international cafes. Co-working spaces are plentiful in business districts and growing pockets of shared offices in outer areas; commuting by matatu or ride-hailing is common but plan for variability. Nairobi living cost shifts with distance from the center and seasonality of travel demand. Tip: Test housing options across seasons and map your commute to balance time and cost.
Which neighborhoods fit different lifestyles in Nairobi, and what budgeting framework or saving tips help plan longer stays?
Neighborhood fit depends on your pace and routines. If you need easy access to cafes, coworking, and nightlife, central districts and uphill suburbs near the riverbank can fit a social rhythm; for more quiet, leafy outskirts offer space and lower rents. Build a practical budget using a simple framework: list essentials (housing, groceries, transport), then discretionary spends (eat out, activities), then savings and travel. Track seasonality in Nairobi, such as rainy periods or events that attract crowds, which can influence prices and availability. Tip: join a local expat or neighborhood group to test different districts before committing.

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.