Cost of living in Nairobi

Kenya · Sub-Saharan Africa · KES · Cheap

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Nairobi, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $4,638 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Nairobi travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$2,178
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$1,500
Local transport$450
Miscellaneous$510
All-in monthly$4,638

Local currency: KES. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $1,652 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $236/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $155/day

Comparable cities

  • Cheaper alternative: Budapest — ~$3,822/mo
  • Similar cost: Cape Town — ~$4,638/mo
  • Pricier alternative: Athens — ~$5,046/mo