Nairobi, Kenya
Can I live in Nairobi on $2,000/month?
Nairobi is one of the most livable cities in Africa. The weather is comfortable, the city is close to nature and wildlife, it’s relatively modern, and the cost of living is reasonable. You could rent a decent apartment in a safe area like Kilimani or Lavington for $350-$450 per month. You could live a good life here for under $2,000 per month.
Nairobi is also a somewhat up-and-coming city. There is a rising tech scene. The population is also growing quickly. This would also be a decent place to invest for the future. This could be an important consideration if you’re planning to start a business or buy real estate.
It’s also a unique destination for people who want a bit of an adventure. Africa isn’t popular among digital nomads, expats, and retirees. If you want something a bit different, Nairobi is worth considering.
One of my favorite things about Kenya is M-Pesa. It is accepted literally everywhere. You can always easily pay for whatever you need. You don’t need to mess with multiple payment methods. You don’t need to carry cash or mess with change. It’s extremely convenient.
Flights here are somewhat expensive but the connections are good. Nairobi is the main hub in East Africa. You will have to factor in the cost of airfare if you want to visit home every year. It could be a significant part of your monthly budget.
Starting numbers checked . Every line below is editable. The estimates include often-forgotten costs like flights home and visas, plus what you lose moving money into KES. The calculator will show you your true monthly burn rate as well as your adjusted exchange rate.
01
Money in
If income varies, enter a typical month in the currency you think in.
Not in the list? Choose “Enter my own…” and type the 3-letter code (GEL, VND, COP…).
02
True FX
How you turn this money into something you can spend.
How you receive money
These are typical estimates. Open Adjust fees if yours are different.
Loading live rate…
After fees
1 USD = 128 KES
Mid-market is 129. You lose about 7.00 USD per $1,000 moved.
Adjust feesThese are typical estimates, not official numbers from the company›
Change these if your app or bank is different from the typical numbers.
03
Monthly costs
Start with these. Turn off anything that isn’t you.
Forgotten expenses
$493/mo
Expenses people often forget
›
Forgotten expenses
$493/mo
Expenses people often forget
Flights home, visas, a house helper. Turn off anything that isn’t you.
True monthly burn
$1,831
236,250 KES
Keep $169
Nairobi cost of living breakdown
The figures the calculator starts with plus some notes. Everything here is an estimate you should change for your situation.
| Expense | Starting estimate | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday costs | $1,160/mo | |
| Rent | $450/mo | $450 |
You can rent a 1-bedroom apartment in a popular neighborhood like Kilimani or Westlands for around $450 per month. Cheaper options are available in less desirable neighborhoods further from the city center. You could find a decent place for $300-$350 in many parts of the city. | ||
| Utilities | $50/mo | $50 |
| Food | $350/mo | $350 |
| Transport | $40/mo | $40 |
Uber is surprisingly affordable in Nairobi. I recently took a one-hour ride from the airport to Riruta for 1,100 shillings or about $8.50. The cheapest way to get around is with matatus (shared minibuses). Most rides in town cost 100-150 shillings or about $0.75-$1.10. | ||
| Phone & internet | $40/mo | $40 |
I use the 7.5GB data plan from Safaricom for 1,000 shillings or about $7.50 per month. | ||
| Health (local) | $80/mo | $80 |
| Entertainment | $150/mo | $150 |
On average, a domestic beer like a Tusker costs 250-350 shillings ($2.00-$2.80) in bars in Nairobi. | ||
| Easy to forget | $493/mo | |
| Flights homeHolidays, family visits | $1,500/yr | $125 |
Flights to and from Africa are pretty expensive. A round-trip flight from Nairobi to the West Coast of the U.S. usually costs me around $1,500. Nairobi has good connections to Europe and the Middle East and other parts of Africa. It is the main hub in East Africa. | ||
| In-country tripsWeekends, nearby cities | $400/yr | $33 |
Nairobi is centrally located in Kenya. You can easily take the train or catch a flight to the coast and relax on the beach in Mombasa, Diani Beach, or Nyali. You could take a bus to Nakuru, Naivasha, or Eldoret. There are lots of nice lakes to visit. If you want to explore other countries nearby, you can catch a flight or bus to Uganda or Tanzania. A one-way international bus ticket costs around $30. | ||
| Visa / border runsPermits, overstays | $300/yr | $25 |
A one-year multi-entry visa costs around $300. A 3-month tourist visa costs around $35. It's easy to apply online. | ||
| Travel insurance | $50/mo | $50 |
| Phone, laptop, clothes | $600/yr | $50 |
| Laundry / cleaning help | $30/mo | $30 |
| Medical bufferClinics, meds insurance skips | $25/mo | $25 |
A visit to a local clinic is cheap and there are pharmacies everywhere. I recently developed a skin condition and went to a local clinic and it only cost 2,500 shillings or about $20 for testing and medication. | ||
| Emergency fund | $100/mo | $100 |
| SubscriptionsStreaming, iCloud, software | $30/mo | $30 |
| Home SIM for 2FA | $25/mo | $25 |
| Bad-week buffer, 10% on top | $165 | |
| Cost of moving money in via Wise | $13 | |
| True monthly burn in Nairobi | $1,831 | |
That is about 236,250 KES a month at roughly 129 KES to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate. On $2,000 a month you would keep $169, and $10,000 of savings would last 5.5 months with no income. 5 more expenses are switched off by default. Turn on the ones that apply to you.
Run the numbers somewhere else
Same calculator, different starting figures. Nairobi lands at $1,831 a month on the defaults above.
Cheaper than Nairobi
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam$1,829/mo
- Zanzibar, Tanzania$1,719/mo
- Kampala, Uganda$1,705/mo
More expensive than Nairobi
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia$1,869/mo
- Bogotá, Colombia$1,986/mo
- Bangkok, Thailand$1,994/mo