Cost of living comparison

compared to
China vs. Nairobi Cost of Living Summary

China is 25.0% more expensive than Nairobi.

Restaurants
pay 28.4% less in China
Groceries
pay 13.5% more in China
Transportation
pay 31.9% less in China
Housing
pay 2.7% more in China
Childcare
pay 2.5 times more in China
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.2% less in China
Clothing
pay 71.4% more in China

The cost of childcare, clothing, groceries, and housing in China are more expensive than in Nairobi. Expenses including transportation, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in China. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in China.

China vs. Nairobi Cost Breakdown

If you lived in China instead of Nairobi, you would:

pay 28.4% less for restaurants

 
Nairobi
China
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $3.85
KES496.97
$2.85
CN¥20.81
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$6.17
KES795.15
$5.07
CN¥36.93
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.66
KES85.47
$0.49
CN¥3.57

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pay 13.5% more for groceries

 
Nairobi
China
Bread
1 loaf
$0.56
KES71.98
$1.59
CN¥11.60
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.59
KES720.92
$5.85
CN¥42.65
Milk (1 gallon) $3.35
KES432.26
$6.86
CN¥50.01

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pay 31.9% less for transportation

 
Nairobi
China
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.17
KES796.32
$4.44
CN¥32.40
Monthly public transit pass $30.83
KES3,975.77
$22.47
CN¥163.80
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,266.80
KES2,484,854.70
$19,071.53
CN¥139,027.67

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pay 2.7% more for housing

 
Nairobi
China
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$39.39
KES5,080.51
$11.70
CN¥85.25
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $428.53
KES55,267.61
$328.33
CN¥2,393.46
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $166.44
KES21,465.32
$205.78
CN¥1,500.10

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pay 2.5 times more for childcare

 
Nairobi
China
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $166.67
KES21,496.17
$459.70
CN¥3,351.11
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $8,008.06
KES1,032,805.49
$18,318.08
CN¥133,535.14

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pay 4.2% less for entertainment and sports

 
Nairobi
China
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.31
KES298.18
$1.09
CN¥7.95
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.24
KES289.01
$3.07
CN¥22.36
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.08
KES397.58
$3.23
CN¥23.57

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pay 71.4% more for clothing

 
Nairobi
China
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$16.84
KES2,172.24
$48.23
CN¥351.55
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$22.95
KES2,959.74
$31.67
CN¥230.88
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$61.84
KES7,975.20
$72.53
CN¥528.70

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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