Nairobi

Nairobi is East Africa's economic hub with growing tech scene, incredible wildlife access, and affordable living. The city provides excellent internet, friendly locals, and a strategic location for exploring Africa.

72Good

Internet

55 Mbps

Monthly Cost

$500-$1,000

Safety Score

60/100

Coworking

20 spaces

East African tech hub

Quality Scores

Overall72

Cost of Living88

Internet75

Safety60

Lifestyle70

Highlights

Growing tech startup scene
Gateway to African wildlife
Affordable living costs
Friendly local culture
Strategic East African location

Living in Nairobi — Your Questions Answered

Budget

64,500-129,000 KES$500-$1,000

Comfortable

129,000-258,000 KES$1,000-$2,000

Luxury

258,000+ KES$2,000+

Budget covers shared housing and local meals, comfortable gets secure neighborhoods and dining out, luxury includes westlands apartments and expat lifestyle.

Studio long-term

25,800-51,600 KES/mo$200-$400/mo

1-bed long-term

38,700-90,300 KES/mo$300-$700/mo

Short-term furnished

64,500-129,000 KES/mo$500-$1,000/mo

Nomad hub area

Westlands/Kilimani

Deposits are typically 2-3 months rent and landlords prefer longer leases of 6-12 months minimum.

BESTUber/Bolt

300-800 KES per trip$2.30-$6.20

Matatu (minibus)

50-100 KES per trip$0.40-$0.80

Boda boda (motorbike)

100-300 KES per trip$0.80-$2.30

Monthly car rental

64,500-103,200 KES$500-$800

Uber and Bolt are safest and most reliable options, especially after dark when public transport becomes risky.

Average speed

55 Mbps

SIM card (monthly data)

1,290-2,580 KES for 20-50GB$10-$20

Cafe WiFi quality

variable

Coworking WiFi

50-150 Mbps

Safaricom offers the most reliable 4G coverage and fiber connections are available in most expat neighborhoods.

Street food meal

150-300 KES$1.20-$2.30

Local restaurant

400-800 KES$3.10-$6.20

Western restaurant

1,290-2,580 KES$10-$20

Coffee

250-400 KES$1.90-$3.10

Beer

250-500 KES$1.90-$3.90

Weekly groceries

3,870-6,450 KES$30-$50

Excellent local Kenyan food is affordable while western restaurants in Westlands and Karen cater to expat prices.

Day pass

645-1,290 KES$5-$10

Monthly membership

12,900-25,800 KES$100-$200

Best known space

Nairobi Garage

Second space

iHub

Nairobi has a thriving tech startup scene with numerous coworking spaces concentrated in Westlands and Kilimani areas.

Tourist visa

90 days

Digital nomad visa

not available

Min. income required

N/AN/A

Application cost

6,838 KES eVisa$53

Most nomads use tourist visas and do visa runs to neighboring countries every 90 days or apply for East African tourist visas.

Safety score

60/100

Solo female travel

use caution

Main risk

petty theft and mugging

Areas to avoid

CBD at night, Eastleigh, Kibera

Nairobi requires street awareness and precautions but expat neighborhoods like Westlands and Karen are relatively safe with security guards.

Climate type

subtropical highland

Best months

June-October, January-February

Avoid

March-May (long rains)

Temperature range

10-26°C / 50-79°F

Year-round spring-like weather at 1,795m elevation means no air conditioning needed but bring layers for cool evenings.

Scene maturity

growing

Main nomad area

Westlands/Kilimani

Facebook/Slack group

Nairobi Digital Nomads

Typical demographic

tech entrepreneurs, regional remote workers, aid workers

Community is smaller than major nomad hubs but networking events through startup scene make meeting people relatively easy.

Nairobi Relocation Checklist

Everything you need before and after arriving in Nairobi

Best Time to Visit

JanuaryFebruaryJuneJulyAugustSeptember

Visa Information

Visa on ArrivalYes

Digital Nomad VisaNo

More Information

See how Nairobi ranks globally →Compare Nairobi with another destination →

Timezone

UTC+3

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