Cost of Living in Nairobi
Kenya
Monthly budget (single)
$1,046–$1,656/month
KSh135,844 – KSh215,065 (local currency)
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).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $785–$1,221 | KSh101,948 – KSh158,571 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $414–$654 | KSh53,766 – KSh84,935 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $33–$63 | KSh4,286 – KSh8,182 |
| Internet & Mobile | $13–$22 | KSh1,688 – KSh2,857 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $166–$248 | KSh21,558 – KSh32,208 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $22–$39 | KSh2,857 – KSh5,065 |
| Coffee | $2–$3 | KSh260 – KSh390 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $41–$50 | KSh5,325 – KSh6,494 |
| Gym membership | $15–$28 | KSh1,948 – KSh3,636 |
| Cinema ticket | $6–$8 | KSh779 – KSh1,039 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,046–$1,656/mo USD
KSh135,844 – KSh215,065
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,221/mo
- Groceries: ~$248/mo
- Transport: ~$50/mo
Couple
$1,656–$2,528/mo USD
KSh215,065 – KSh328,312
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,221/mo
- Groceries: ~$248/mo
- Transport: ~$50/mo
Family
$2,397–$3,705/mo USD
KSh311,299 – KSh481,169
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 (KSh127,403 – KSh198,182)
Nairobi Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $864–$1,343/mo (KSh112,208 – KSh174,416)
Nairobi Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $628–$977/mo (KSh81,558 – KSh126,883)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Safari gateway
- • Fintech
- • English
❌ Cons
- • Traffic
- • Infrastructure gaps
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Similar cities
Cheaper alternatives
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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.