Cost of Living in Nairobi
Kenya
Comfortable budget (single)
$1,656/month
Range $1,046–$1,656/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Nairobi?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Nairobi for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$2.5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$3.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$9
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$205
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$46
monthly pass
Gym
$22
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $785–$1,221 | ↓ -50% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $414–$654 | ↓ -50% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $33–$63 | ↓ -51% |
| Internet & Mobile | $13–$22 | ↓ -50% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $166–$248 | ↓ -50% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $22–$39 | ↓ -51% |
| Coffee | $2–$3 | ↓ -37% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $41–$50 | ↓ -51% |
| Gym membership | $15–$28 | ↓ -51% |
| Cinema ticket | $6–$8 | ↓ -50% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Nairobi — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$785–$1,221/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$3,730
Buy outside (per m²)
$2,050
Price-to-rent ratio
14×
Avg mortgage rate
15.0%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Nairobi center at ~$3,730/m² with a 25y loan at 15.0% would cost roughly $2,866/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Nairobi. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $950 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $1,800 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $1,300 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $700 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $900 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Nairobi.
Leverage M-Pesa for nearly all transactions, from shopping to transport, as it is the dominant mobile money service in Kenya.
For fresh produce and local goods, visit City Market or the rotating Maasai Market for a true Nairobi shopping experience.
Explore the vibrant nightlife and diverse restaurants in Westlands, but always use reputable ride-hailing services like Bolt for safety.
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,046–$1,656/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,221/mo
- Groceries: ~$248/mo
- Transport: ~$50/mo
Couple
$1,656–$2,528/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,221/mo
- Groceries: ~$248/mo
- Transport: ~$50/mo
Family
$2,397–$3,705/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,221/mo
- Groceries: ~$248/mo
- Transport: ~$50/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Nairobi Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $981–$1,526/mo
Nairobi Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $864–$1,343/mo
Nairobi Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $628–$977/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Safari gateway
- • Fintech
- • English
❌ Cons
- • Traffic
- • Infrastructure gaps
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.