Cost of Living in Nairobi

Mercer's Cost of Living City Ranking for 2024 ranked Nairobi 201st out of 226 cities evaluated, making it more affordable than Maputo, Mozambique (164th) and about as costly as Kigali, Rwanda (199th).

If you are working in Nairobi, you will likely earn a good salary with employment perks for major expenses. These could include housing allowances, company cars, health insurance contributions, education benefits, and visa and permit charges.

That said, don't be misled into thinking that life in Nairobi is cheap. While it certainly is possible to live sparingly with minimal expenses, you may prefer imported products and other services, which often come at a price.

Your chief expenses in Nairobi will be accommodation, school fees, transport, food, clothes and utilities.

Cost of accommodation in Nairobi

The cost of accommodation in Nairobi depends on location, but suitable quality accommodation can be expensive. Your employer typically offers to take care of this expense. This offer can also include the required security deposit, usually the equivalent of two to three months' rent. Utilities like electricity, water and internet are likely to be your responsibility.

An accommodation-related expense that you may not anticipate is security measures. If you live in a gated community, this is typically included in the rental costs, but it's unlikely to be the case in standalone homes.

Cost of transport in Nairobi

You may prefer owning a car in Kenya, which allows for more freedom. Depending on the model and condition, cars can be pretty expensive in Nairobi, but once you have purchased a vehicle, you may opt to hire a driver too. Chauffeurs are said to be quite affordable and worth considering, as navigating Nairobi's traffic can be stressful.

Renting a car is a cheaper alternative to buying and can be more convenient if you will only be in the country for a limited time. Some expats, especially those in top executive positions, will have a company car and driver provided for them.

The primary means of public transport in Kenya is the matatu (a van or minibus with a fixed or semi-fixed route). This option is cheap, but the vehicles are regularly overcrowded and often don't meet safety standards.

Taxis are also used frequently, but because there's no clear-cut billing method and vehicles don't have meters, you should research pricing and negotiate an agreeable fare with the driver beforehand.

Cost of groceries in Nairobi

In Nairobi, grocery costs vary based on your preference for local or imported items. Supermarkets cater to diverse tastes and needs, offering a mix of local and international products. Local produce is relatively affordable, while imported goods like cheese, wine or packaged foods command surprisingly high prices due to import taxes and shipping costs.

If you cook at home, you can save substantially, but dining out is also popular. Nairobi boasts a thriving food scene with a broad range of eateries offering local, continental and international cuisine at varying prices. Like with groceries, dining at high-end restaurants serving imported ingredients will be more costly than enjoying local dishes at smaller, local establishments.

Cost of entertainment and eating out in Nairobi

Kenya has something for everyone's type of lifestyle, whether it's nature, shopping or socialising in a bar. Nairobi National Park is located just south of the capital city and is a popular attraction among expats and locals alike. The national park isn't overly expensive, and shopping and dining in the city are relatively affordable too. Still, you should closely monitor your finances, as costs can add up quickly.

Cost of education in Nairobi

You will likely send your children to international schools, which can be mightily expensive. Apart from fees, there may also be additional expenses for registration, transport, food and field trips. Again, it's common for employers to include some form of education allowance in your expat package. If this isn't initially part of the offer, we recommend you negotiate for it.

Cost of healthcare in Nairobi

The cost of private healthcare in Nairobi is roughly equivalent to rates in Western countries. Day-to-day treatment is relatively affordable, but health insurance is recommended, especially in case of emergency treatment or medical evacuation.

There are plenty of health insurance providers in Nairobi. Most expats have health insurance included in their salary package.