 
|
|
Cost of Living in Nairobi
Summary about cost of living in Nairobi:
- Four-person family monthly costs: 1,788.79$ (185,088.17KSh) without rent (using our estimator).
- A single person monthly costs: 500.26$ (51,762.77KSh) without rent.
- Cost of living index in Nairobi is 54.28% lower than in Paris.
- Cost of living rank 413th out of 524 cities in the world.
- Nairobi has a cost of living index of 41.32.
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 4.83 $ | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 24.16 $ | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 6.77 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 1.93 $ | |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 2.42 $ | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 2.35 $ | |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | 0.52 $ | |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | 0.45 $ | |
| Markets | [ Edit ] | |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 1.00 $ | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 0.53 $ | |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 1.48 $ | |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 1.42 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 9.80 $ | |
| Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) | 6.19 $ | |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 5.07 $ | |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.63 $ | |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.39 $ | |
| Oranges (1kg) | 2.16 $ | |
| Tomato (1kg) | 0.89 $ | |
| Potato (1kg) | 0.93 $ | |
| Onion (1kg) | 0.93 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.54 $ | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 0.74 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 9.66 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 1.75 $ | |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 2.24 $ | |
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | 1.98 $ | |
| Transportation | [ Edit ] | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0.48 $ | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 24.16 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 2.90 $ | |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | 1.45 $ | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 2.90 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 0.95 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 14,496.76 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 12,241.71 $ | |
| Utilities (Monthly) | [ Edit ] | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | 53.68 $ | |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 0.03 $ | |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 50.11 $ | |
| Sports And Leisure | [ Edit ] | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 52.89 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 5.32 $ | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 6.77 $ | |
| Childcare | [ Edit ] | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 194.17 $ | |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 8,203.56 $ | |
| Clothing And Shoes | [ Edit ] | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 36.89 $ | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 31.37 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 56.38 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 51.84 $ | |
| Rent Per Month | [ Edit ] | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 319.50 $ | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 167.92 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 843.14 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 382.07 $ | |
| Buy Apartment Price | [ Edit ] | |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 9,754.71 $ | |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 724.84 $ | |
| Salaries And Financing | [ Edit ] | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 312.60 $ | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 16.18 |
Prices in Nairobi
These data are based on 1243 entries in the past 18 months from 153 different contributors.
Last update: December 2017
Last update: December 2017
Sources and References:
No sources and references provided yet.
No sources and references provided yet.
33 Comments so far
I have applied for the UN Internship program in Nairobi, which is unfortunately unpaid. Put differently, if I am selected I would need to finance it on my own.
Is there someone in Nairobi right now who can assist with the minimum amount of money that is needed for my "survival" in Nairobi?
Renting a flat with some local maybe - transportation cost for the public transport - groceries
Nothing luxurious.
Thank you!
If you want to travel within te country you will pay a lot of money for hotels which have super high prices compared to the facilities you get for it.
If you want the same lifestyle as back home, you will pay much more money that you would in Europe. Living a relatively simple life (limited alcohol, once a week to a restaurant, a few weekend breaks here and there ) but with all the necessary safety measures in place and an international school for my kids as most non-international schools don't have the same quality as back home, I spend at least USD 10.000 per month for a family of 4.
And, every month, Kenya becomes more expensive.
if you want to live a high end lifestyle what do you expect. of course life will be very very expensive.
my advice like some people said below, spend some time and get accustomed to the way of life in the city. the prices put above are downright outrageous.
I have seen foreigners living in normal neighbourhoods, using public transportation, shopping where the regular Kenyan shops (the goods sold are the same everywhere). it's not because they don't earn a lot, but if you intend to live here plan your budget wisely. otherwise you will end up complaining how everything is expensive and its not.
like @concerned reader said "it must be made clear that there are various classes of shopping outlets, products in the market, accommodation by location and other considerations"
Have you consider flat share with local before you get your own for best choice here
http://www.booking.com/hotel/ke/celestsifa
like many cities you are bound to get non-resident costs slapped on you when get around to tourist location but they are always reasonable rates. you can subsidies an outing by opting to do self catering and self drive in the game parks.
also avoid giving out bribes for services my advice will be to quickly learn the local language (Swahili or sheng) you will be more accepted, infact the more I talk about Nairobi the more I feel like I am talking about NEWYORK.........
These prices are incorrect for an expat
Rents have increased 25% each year for 3 years in a row
If you want a decent 3 or 4 bed house, expect to pay 250,000 to 350,000 kes per month
a meal out in an ok restaurant costs between 5,000 and 10,000 kes
Nairobi is expensive for those that want a certain kind of life and its cheap for those expatriates that know the ropes and are reasonable in their spending. I have expatriates for colueagues and they live within thin reasonable means and still earn some good salaries. You don't have to live in a 3 br house and pay 150k or drink at some expensive joint every day. By the way, those saying local beer goes for 300, havent been to decent places that sell at 200 or less.
I have been travelling back and forth to Kenya for over two years now and I am astonished how the people survive with such horrific pricing.
I live in Vancouver, Canada and 2014 forbes cited my city as the most expensive in North America, yet the prices in Nairobi, Mombasa were higher then my own city with little comparison to infrastructure or social services.
I went through $15,000 in 6 weeks between taxis costing $50-$80 for trips into Nairobi from buru buru, one hour away, to paying 350Ksh plus for a domestic beer, to paying 12,000 ksh for my wife and myself at an average restaurant.
your pricing is sadly outdated or misrepresented... just groceries alone at Tusky's, we could not afford to shop at the Nakumart, were running 18,000 sh per two weeks, that's $450 USd per month for two people and we are not big eaters, meat and beer or a bottle of wine was extra.
a small glass of wine, I mean 4 oz was 350 sh plus at a simple local bar.
we went to a Luo restaurant in Nairobi upstairs we hade gideri, bowl of rice, two meat bowls two tuska malts and the total bill came to 2050 Ksh or $25.62 USd not including tip for a very small and light lunch and this place was a two or one star restaurant.
Rent is outrageously high unless you live in the slums...so for expats or investors you really need to update your facts on this country because it is highly misleading and very outdated.
Also you forgot the cost for graft if you are not black...this should be implemented as self inflicted gratuities and cost us about 15,000 per month.
I hope you take a serious and realistic look at the pricing index of this country as you are sadly mistaken.
company giving accomodation with electricity & water with transportation to office.
how much i save ,kindly help me
Domestic beer starts at 350sh, imported 500sh, a cheap wine (4 oz only) 350-500, a shot of hard liquor ( a shot is 1/3 oz, not a true shot) 300sh
Food at a local 2 star restaurant for two dinner with one glass of wine and bottle of beer is 4000-6000 sh if you share a salad!
Cost of weekly groceries will run you 9000-12000 per week not including any alcohol
taxis are about 6000-8000 to run into Nairobi and out for a one hour ride
then graft will cost you about 12,000 per month if you are white.
I feel so sorry for the Kenyans here because their wages do not support their families, while these business rape their economy.
If you want to go to a 4 star restaurant you will be wasting your money for the quality of food and preparation but you will pay up to 18,000 sh or $225.00 USD for two people with a bottle of wine and appetizer...
this is not a place to retire unless you are wealthy
I saw many Kenya kimbu, expats who live like Kenyans and talked to them as to what happened,,,they said they cannot afford to live in Kenya and they cannot afford to leave.
be warned
Please advise the salary bracket of mentioned position
-HR & Admin Executive (03 - 06 years)
-Software Engineer ( 1-3 years exp)
-Senior Software Engineer (3-6 years exp)
-Sales Manager (5-6 years of Exp)
- Project Manager (06 plus years)
And also gives approach idea in Kenya currency of below mentioned
-Monthly Out Patient Medical
-Monthly rent of 1 or 2 bedroom apartment
-Monthly Grocery expense of 2 member family
-Monthly School Fees of child
Or any other expense which you want to mention.
to know how life is in nairobi generally,am a nigerian i based in south africa but am planning to relocate to kenya for academic purpose,can one get a job and same time be schooling in kenya?chris.