Cost of Living

Nairobi, Kenya

Live cost-of-living data for Nairobi — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
$675/mo
Median Income
41/100
Safety
30%
Income Tax
subtropical highland
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
45/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$520/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$280/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$950/month
Food & Groceries
42/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.84/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.8/kg
Transportation
38/100
Monthly Transit Pass$35/month
One-Way Ticket$0.77/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.29/km
Utilities
40/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$58/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$25/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$15/month
Healthcare
48/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$62/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$380/month
International Primary School (yearly)$9,500/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$280/course
Entertainment
45/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
48/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$62/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$24/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.1/bottle
Dining Out
42/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$8/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$35/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5.4/meal
Childcare
45/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$520/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
42/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$28/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

32 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
55/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Westlands, Karen, Upper Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nairobi cheap to live in?

Nairobi has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Nairobi?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Nairobi costs approximately $520/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $280/month.

Is Nairobi good for digital nomads?

Nairobi has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 32 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Nairobi?

The median net monthly salary in Nairobi is approximately $675 USD. The income tax rate is around 30%.

How does Nairobi compare to New York for cost of living?

Nairobi (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Nairobi.

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