Cost of Living in Nairobi 2025: What Our Family of 3 Really Spends Each Month 🇰🇪
- theorabrooks
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
When people hear we packed up our lives and moved to Nairobi, one of the first questions they ask is: “But how much does it cost to live there?” The short answer? It depends on your taste. Nairobi is one of those cities where you can live on a tight budget or ball out like you’re on Real Housewives of Karen. And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about this city — you can choose the life you want. Here is the cost of living in Nairobi 2025: What Our Family of 3 Really Spends Each Month.
🏠 Housing: Pick Your Lifestyle, Pick Your Price
Nairobi is a “choose your own adventure” when it comes to housing.
Want to live like a true local? Head to Embakasi, where you can grab a 2–3 bedroom apartment for about $200 USD a month.
Prefer trendy city vibes? Look at Kilimani, Kileleshwa, or Lavington, where a 2-bedroom runs around $800 USD monthly.
Want suburban luxury? Move to Karen or Runda, where you’ll spend about $1,800–$2,000 for a 3–4 bedroom.
As for us? We stayed in a 2-bedroom Airbnb in Rosslyn that set us back $1,699/month. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Also yes — because when you’re relocating with a kid, “comfortable” beats “character-building” every time.
🚗 Transportation: Uber is Our Bestie
Forget car ownership (for now). We use Uber and Bolt for everything, which adds up to about $300/month. That’s basically the price of a car note back in the U.S. — except here, I don’t have to deal with gas, insurance, or explaining why I scraped the side of the garage wall again. (Don’t judge me.)
🛒 Groceries: Carrefour, Naivas & Click-to-Order Life
Between Carrefour, Naivas, and the magic of grocery delivery, we spend about $400/month. Nairobi grocery shopping is a mix of familiar and fun — you’ll find your basics, but also get introduced to new local favorites. And let me tell you: fresh mangoes here hit different.
💇🏾♀️ Self-Care: Hair, Nails & Waxing
Beauty maintenance is non-negotiable. Between haircuts, nails, and waxing, we spend about $80/month. That’s less than I used to pay for a single color-and-style back in the States. Let’s just say my bank account is grateful, even if my eyebrows are still recovering from that one experimental wax lady.
🎉 Entertainment: Kid Energy Costs Extra
Family entertainment — aka keeping our son happily tired — runs about $200/month. That includes trips to the jump place twice a month, plus eating out and trying new things. Nairobi has endless activities, and honestly, watching your kid bounce until they collapse is the best return on investment.
🎒 School Transportation: The Hidden Line Item
Our son’s school transportation costs 7,500 Kenyan Shillings (about $50) per month. Honestly, that’s cheaper than the bribes I used to pay in snacks just to get him to the car in the morning.
💰 So, What’s the Grand Total?
Here’s our monthly breakdown on the “comfortably-expensive” side of Nairobi living:
Housing (Airbnb Rosslyn 2BR): $1,699
Transportation (Uber/Bolt): $300
Groceries: $400
Self-Care (hair, nails, waxes): $80
Entertainment: $200
School Transport: ~$50
👉 Total: Around $2,729/month
Final Thoughts: Nairobi Lets You Choose
Yes, our budget leans on the higher side — because comfort, convenience, and family-friendly choices matter to us. But here’s the beauty of Nairobi: you can scale up or down based on your lifestyle. Want to live like a local and keep it under $600 a month? Totally doable. Want expat-level luxury? Nairobi’s got that too.
At the end of the day, Nairobi is like a buffet — you can fill your plate with what fits your taste. Just remember, whether it’s groceries, schools, or housing, this city is about flexibility and choice. And honestly, that’s priceless.
👉 and let’s make your move smoother, easier, and way less stressful.
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