Cost of living comparison
Nairobi is 13.8% more expensive than Lusaka.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.1% more in Nairobi
- Groceries
-
pay 8.3% less in Nairobi
- Transportation
-
pay 42.0% more in Nairobi
- Housing
-
pay 0.7% more in Nairobi
- Childcare
-
pay 8.1% more in Nairobi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 50.8% more in Nairobi
- Clothing
-
pay 13.6% less in Nairobi
The cost of entertainment and sports, transportation, restaurants, childcare, and housing in Nairobi are more expensive than in Lusaka. Expenses including clothing and groceries are lower in Nairobi.
If you lived in Nairobi instead of Lusaka, you would:
pay 17.1% more for restaurants
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW168.81
|
$3.85
KES497.85
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW89.46
|
$6.17
KES796.57
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW16.70
|
$0.66
KES85.62
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW7.75
|
$0.53
KES68.79
|
|
pay 8.3% less for groceries
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW17.31
|
$0.56
KES72.11
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW85.11
|
$5.59
KES722.20
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW113.59
|
$3.35
KES433.02
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW45.05
|
$1.70
KES219.99
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW42.06
|
$2.71
KES350.07
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW28.11
|
$1.26
KES163.27
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW14.13
|
$0.50
KES64.55
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW29.62
|
$0.87
KES112.89
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW13.19
|
$0.46
KES59.06
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW22.37
|
$0.48
KES62.34
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW15.77
|
$0.56
KES71.87
|
|
pay 42.0% more for transportation
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW111.56
|
$6.17
KES797.74
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW866.99
|
$30.83
KES3,982.83
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW187,383.17
|
$19,266.80
KES2,489,270.65
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW283.95
|
$13.87
KES1,792.27
|
|
pay 0.7% more for housing
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW2,947.72
|
$39.39
KES5,089.54
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW5,019.56
|
$428.53
KES55,365.83
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW2,691.14
|
$166.44
KES21,503.47
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW1,954.75
|
$22.39
KES2,893.11
|
|
pay 8.1% more for childcare
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW4,138.58
|
$166.67
KES21,534.37
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW153,811.30
|
$8,008.06
KES1,034,640.93
|
|
pay 50.8% more for entertainment and sports
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW22.63
|
$2.31
KES298.71
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW48.54
|
$2.24
KES289.52
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW58.27
|
$3.08
KES398.28
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW964.76
|
$44.12
KES5,699.93
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW81.92
|
$6.17
KES796.57
|
|
pay 13.6% less for clothing
Lusaka
|
Nairobi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW431.55
|
$16.84
KES2,176.10
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW439.73
|
$22.95
KES2,965.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,111.00
|
$61.84
KES7,989.37
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW1,937.41
|
$52.50
KES6,783.22
|
|
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