Cost of Living in Nairobi

Nairobi's residential neighborhoods each cater to different nomad profiles, and the price gap between unfurnished and furnished apartments is dramatic. Kilimani is the most popular nomad hub -- centrally located near Yaya Centre with abundant cafes and restaurants -- where unfurnished one-bedrooms run KES 40,000-80,000 ($310-620) and furnished units climb to KES 65,000-120,000 ($500-930). Neighboring Kileleshwa is slightly quieter with tree-lined streets and unfurnished one-bedrooms at KES 45,000-65,000 ($350-500), often in gated compounds with gyms, borehole water, and backup generators. Lavington offers more space and a suburban feel with furnished one-bedrooms at KES 65,000-150,000 ($500-1,160), while Westlands -- Nairobi's commercial and nightlife center near Sarit Centre -- commands KES 90,000-200,000+ ($700-1,550+) for furnished one-bedrooms. Karen sits on Nairobi's southern edge with leafy compounds and houses starting at KES 35,000 ($270) for basic units, though most quality rentals range KES 60,000-150,000 ($465-1,160). Upper Hill, the corporate district near the city center, skews expensive and is better suited to short business stays than long-term nomad living.

Nairobi's food scene is one of Africa's most dynamic, blending authentic Kenyan staples with a cosmopolitan restaurant culture that spans every budget. At local eateries and "kibanda" street stalls in areas like the CBD and Eastlands, a plate of ugali with sukuma wiki and stewed beef or beans runs 150-300 KES ($1.15-$2.30), making it easy to eat well for under $3 per meal. Step up to a casual sit-down restaurant and you'll pay around 700 KES ($5.40) for a solid local meal -- the legendary Mama Oliech in Kilimani serves her iconic deep-fried tilapia with ugali and greens for under 1,000 KES ($7.70). Nyama choma (charcoal-grilled goat or beef) is a Nairobi institution; head to the Kamakis strip along Eastern Bypass where a kilo of grilled goat with kachumbari starts around 800-1,200 KES ($6.15-$9.25), or splash out at the famous Carnivore restaurant for about $40 per person all-inclusive. Kenya is a coffee origin country, and the cafe scene reflects it -- a cappuccino at Java House or Artcaffe (the two dominant chains, with dozens of locations) costs 300-450 KES ($2.30-$3.45), while specialty spots like Kesh Kesh Cafe in Lavington pour single-origin Kenyan AA for similar prices. A domestic Tusker beer at a neighborhood pub runs around 300 KES ($2.30), while cocktails at Westlands bars average 800 KES ($6.15).

Nairobi's supermarket landscape is well-developed, with Naivas (108+ stores nationwide), Carrefour (28 stores, often the cheapest), Quickmart (61 stores), and Chandarana Foodplus (27 stores, best for imported and gourmet products) covering every neighborhood. Staple prices at major chains are genuinely affordable: a liter of milk costs around 108 KES ($0.83), a dozen eggs 213 KES ($1.64), 500g of white bread 71 KES ($0.55), and a kilo of white rice 233 KES ($1.79). Protein is reasonably priced with chicken fillets at 834 KES/kg ($6.42) and beef round at 751 KES/kg ($5.78). Fresh produce is where Nairobi really shines -- tomatoes run 121 KES/kg ($0.93), potatoes 134 KES/kg ($1.03), onions 118 KES/kg ($0.91), and bananas 130 KES/kg ($1.00). Carrefour and Naivas often undercut each other on staples; Carrefour typically wins on potatoes (69 KES/kg vs Naivas' 99 KES/kg), while Naivas is more competitive on tomatoes and sukuma wiki. For even better deals, shopping at open-air markets like Wakulima Market near the CBD or the various "soko" neighborhood markets can cut produce costs by 30-50% compared to supermarkets.

Nairobi's transport network is dominated by matatus -- privately operated minibuses that cover over 130 routes across the city. Fares on urban matatu routes run KES 50-100 ($0.40-$0.80) for short hops and KES 100-200 ($0.80-$1.55) for longer cross-city rides, though prices fluctuate based on demand, rain, and rush hour. Matatus are cheap but unpredictable: routes shift with traffic and police checkpoints, and there are no fixed schedules. For digital nomads, ride-hailing apps are the practical default. Uber and Bolt are widely available across Westlands, Kilimani, the CBD, Karen, and Lavington, with short neighborhood rides costing KES 250-500 ($2-$4) and cross-city trips running KES 800-2,000 ($6-$15). Following a government-mandated 50% fare increase in late 2025, per-kilometer rates now sit around KES 33 for standard vehicles. Both apps accept M-PESA -- Kenya's ubiquitous mobile money platform -- which is essential since Uber dropped Visa payments in Kenya entirely in January 2026. Boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) cost around KES 150-300 ($1.15-$2.30) per ride and are the fastest way to cut through gridlock, though safety is a real concern and helmets are not always provided.

Nairobi earns its "Silicon Savannah" nickname with genuinely strong internet infrastructure for East Africa. Three major fiber providers serve the city: Safaricom Home Fibre offers packages from KES 2,999/month ($23) for 15 Mbps up to KES 20,000/month ($155) for gigabit speeds, with zero installation fees and unlimited data. Faiba (JTL) is the speed champion, with its Home Plus plans starting at KES 5,000/month ($39) for 90 Mbps and reaching 1 Gbps at KES 30,000/month ($233) -- all with dedicated (non-shared) connections and 4G backup via a bundled Faiba SIM. Zuku rounds out the options with plans from KES 2,799/month ($22) for 10 Mbps to KES 5,999/month ($47) for 60 Mbps, often bundled with TV. Starlink has also entered the market at KES 4,000/month ($31) for unlimited residential service, with kit rental available at just KES 1,950/month ($15). For short-stay nomads in furnished apartments, confirm which provider is already installed -- switching takes time. Average real-world speeds across Nairobi sit around 30-46 Mbps depending on area and provider, with Westlands and Kilimani having the most reliable coverage.

Nairobi has the best medical infrastructure in East Africa, anchored by three world-class private hospitals: Nairobi Hospital on Argwings Kodhek Road, Aga Khan University Hospital in Parklands, and MP Shah Hospital near Shivachi Road. A general practitioner consultation at these facilities runs KES 2,000-3,000 (USD 15-23), while specialist visits cost KES 4,000-10,000 (USD 31-78). Public hospitals like Kenyatta National Hospital charge less at KES 1,100-2,800 (USD 9-22) for outpatient visits, but wait times are long and facilities crowded. Dental care is remarkably affordable: a checkup costs KES 1,000-2,000 (USD 8-16), professional teeth cleaning KES 3,500-6,000 (USD 27-47), and a standard filling KES 2,000-5,000 (USD 16-39). Pharmacies are well-stocked and common across the city, with many medications available without prescription including basic antibiotics and antimalarials like Coartem at KES 200-400 (USD 2-3) per course. The online pharmacy MYDAWA offers competitive pricing and home delivery throughout Nairobi.

Kenya replaced its single-entry e-visa with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system available at etakenya.go.ke, costing USD 35 for most nationalities and processed within two working days. For longer stays, Kenya launched a Class N Digital Nomad Work Permit in 2024, valid for one to two years and exempt from local income tax on foreign earnings, though income requirements vary from USD 24,000 to USD 55,000 annually depending on the source, so confirm with immigration before applying. Register for M-PESA immediately upon arrival, as mobile money is ubiquitous and many shops, restaurants, and matatus only accept it. Buy a Safaricom SIM card at the airport for about KES 100 (USD 1), then visit a Safaricom store with your passport to activate M-PESA, a process that takes roughly 30 minutes. Top up with cash at any of the thousands of agents across the city. Without M-PESA, you will find daily life genuinely difficult.