Cost of living in Nairobi: can you afford it?
On a gross salary of Ksh 50,000 you take home Ksh 39,029. A bedsitter in Umoja rents for Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 10,000. Power, water, data and gas come to about Ksh 4,293, food Ksh 6,996, and matatu fares to town Ksh 5,632. That leaves Ksh 12,108 to Ksh 15,108 a month.
Rules as of October 2026. Updated .
Can you afford it?
Left at the end of the monthKsh 12,108 to 15,108living in Umoja
This works, with room to save.
| Take-home payAfter PAYE, SHIF, NSSF and the Housing Levy. | Ksh 39,029 |
|---|---|
| Rent (bedsitter)The usual range in this estate. | Ksh 7,000 to 10,000 |
| Power tokens | Ksh 1,258 |
| Water | Ksh 500 |
| Data and airtime | Ksh 1,300 |
| Cooking gas | Ksh 1,235 |
| FoodCooking at home, plus lunch at a kibanda on work days. | Ksh 6,996 |
| Matatu faresTwo rides a work day at the rush-hour fare, about Ksh 128 a ride. | Ksh 5,632 |
| Left over | Ksh 12,108 to 15,108 |
On this pay you can cover: bedsitter in South B (up to Ksh 22,500); bedsitter in South C (up to Ksh 22,500); bedsitter in the CBD (up to Ksh 18,000).
One person, cooking at home. Rents are the usual range for the estate, not one listing.
Live it for real: a payslip of Ksh 39,029, a room in Umoja, rent due at month end. See if you make it in GrindLife Nairobi.
Play free GrindLife is a free life game on real Nairobi streets, with the rents, bills and fares on this page.Rent in Nairobi by estate, 2026
Ksh a month. The KNBS Nairobi averages (Ksh 7,500 for a bedsitter, Ksh 8,500 for a one-bedroom, Ksh 15,000 for a two-bedroom), spread by estate and rounded to 500. A dash: that home is rare there.
| Estate | Single room | Bedsitter | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawangware | 2,500 to 5,000 | - | - | - |
| Kibera | 2,500 to 5,000 | - | - | - |
| Mathare | 2,500 to 5,000 | - | - | - |
| Mukuru | 2,500 to 5,000 | - | - | - |
| Umoja | - | 7,000 to 10,000 | 10,000 to 15,500 | 15,000 to 30,000 |
| Donholm | - | 7,000 to 10,000 | 10,000 to 15,500 | 15,000 to 30,000 |
| Buruburu | - | 7,000 to 10,000 | 10,000 to 15,500 | 15,000 to 30,000 |
| Kasarani | - | 7,000 to 12,000 | 15,500 to 24,500 | 25,500 to 40,500 |
| Roysambu | - | 7,000 to 12,000 | 15,500 to 24,500 | 25,500 to 40,500 |
| Ongata Rongai | - | 8,500 to 15,000 | 12,000 to 20,500 | 19,500 to 30,000 |
| South B | - | 18,000 to 22,500 | 24,500 to 35,000 | 45,000 to 55,500 |
| South C | - | 18,000 to 22,500 | 24,500 to 35,000 | 45,000 to 55,500 |
| the CBD | - | 12,000 to 18,000 | 20,500 to 30,000 | - |
| Kilimani | - | 20,500 to 26,500 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 60,000 to 90,000 |
| Kileleshwa | - | 20,500 to 26,500 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 60,000 to 90,000 |
| Upper Hill | - | 20,500 to 26,500 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 60,000 to 90,000 |
| Westlands | - | 25,000 to 30,000 | 40,000 to 60,500 | 90,000 to 105,000 |
| Karen | - | - | - | 100,500 to 240,000 |
| Runda | - | - | - | 100,500 to 240,000 |
Bills and food a month
Power tokens, water, data and airtime, cooking gas, and food for one, by home. KNBS prices for September 2026.
| A month (Ksh) | Bedsitter | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power tokens | 1,258 | 2,113 | 3,253 |
| Water | 500 | 800 | 1,200 |
| Data and airtime | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Cooking gas | 1,235 | 1,235 | 1,235 |
| Food | 6,996 | 6,996 | 6,996 |
Matatu fares from town
Ksh a ride. Fares rise in the rush and when it rains.
| From town to | Off-peak | Rush hour | A month of rush-hour rides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westlands | 20 to 30 | 40 to 60 | 2,200 |
| South B and South C | 40 to 50 | 60 to 65 | 2,772 |
| Kibera, Kawangware, Kangemi | 50 to 70 | 100 to 100 | 4,400 |
| Kasarani, Roysambu | 70 to 70 | 125 to 125 | 5,500 |
| Umoja, Embakasi, Nyayo | 70 to 80 | 125 to 130 | 5,632 |
| Ngong, Rongai, Ruaka | 100 to 100 | 190 to 190 | 8,360 |
Moving in
- Expect a deposit of 1 to 2 months' rent, plus the first month in advance. Water and power set-up comes on top.
- Only 34% of Nairobi tenants have a written agreement. Get one, and a receipt for the deposit.
- Rent takes 38% of what Nairobi renters spend in a month (KNBS).
Questions people ask
How much do I need to live in Nairobi as a single person?
In Umoja, a bedsitter at Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 10,000, bills of about Ksh 4,293, food at Ksh 6,996 and fares of Ksh 5,632 come to roughly what Ksh 50,000 gross takes home, Ksh 39,029. Cheaper estates and a single room bring it well down.
What is the average rent in Nairobi?
KNBS puts the Nairobi average at Ksh 7,500 for a bedsitter, Ksh 8,500 for a one-bedroom and Ksh 15,000 for a two-bedroom. Kilimani and Westlands run several times that.
How much is a bedsitter in Nairobi?
The national CPI bedsitter rent was Ksh 7,690 in September 2026. Use the table above for your estate.
Can I live in Nairobi on 30k?
Only just. Ksh 30,000 gross takes home Ksh 26,194. A single room in Kawangware leaves Ksh 5,505 to Ksh 8,005 after bills, food and fares. A bedsitter in Umoja leaves −Ksh 727 to Ksh 2,273, so it works only at the cheap end of the estate.
Can I afford Kilimani on 100k?
Ksh 100,000 gross takes home Ksh 70,442. A one-bedroom in Kilimani rents for Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000, which leaves Ksh 5,798 to Ksh 25,798 once bills, food and fares are paid.
Where does this come from?
The same numbers the GrindLife game runs on: KNBS rents and prices, KRA tax, and reported matatu fares.
Sources
- KNBS, 2023/24 Kenya Housing Survey (average Nairobi rent by unit, tenancy norms)
- KNBS, Consumer Price Indices, September 2026 (food, power, gas, bedsitter rent)
- KRA, PAYE guide (take-home pay)
- Reported matatu fares, April 2026, and estate rents: market research, 2026 (Kenyan press).